R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; & Striving Towards Happiness

David Maslach
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Professor David Maslach talks about graduate school, research, science, Innovation, and entrepreneurship. The R3ciprocity project is my way to give back as much as I possibly can. I seek to provide insights and tools to change how we understand science, and make it more democratic.

  1. 1시간 전

    I’m Embarrassed. I’m Terrified. But I Do It Anyway.

    I know I’m weird. I record podcasts while driving. I talk to strangers on the internet. I’ve poured time, money, and reputation into something that might go nowhere. It’s embarrassing. It’s terrifying. And I do it anyway. This episode is for anyone sitting on a dream but too scared to start. I get it. I feel that same fear—every single day. I’m shy. I hate being the center of attention. I worry I’m wasting time I could spend with my kids. But still, I show up. We live in a world filled with opportunity. Anyone can build something. Anyone can speak. But most people won’t—because someone, somewhere told them they were foolish for even trying. If you’ve ever felt like what you want is too big, too weird, too risky, or too small to matter, I want you to hear this: you’re not alone. The fear doesn’t go away. But the only way forward is through. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to do it afraid. Take care. And go be weird.

    14분

  2. 2일 전

    Having Kids Makes No Economic Sense—So I Did It Anyway

    If you’re looking for a rational, financial reason to have kids, you won’t find one here. I’ve looked. I teach strategy and economics. I live in a world obsessed with optimization. And by all those measures, having children is just… a cost. But I did it anyway. Twice. This episode is about the truth no one wants to say out loud: there’s no economic model that justifies raising kids. It’s time-consuming, expensive, and pulls you away from work you love. And yet, somehow, it’s also the most meaningful decision I’ve ever made. I talk about the tension between ambition and family, love and logic, joy and sacrifice. I challenge the financial frameworks we use to define “value” in life—and why they break down the moment you try to price love, time, or legacy. This isn’t an argument for parenthood. It’s an invitation to rethink what matters. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re doing something that doesn’t make sense on paper—but feels right in your soul—this one’s for you. Take care. And let yourself choose joy, even when it looks like a loss.

    25분

  3. 4일 전

    You’re Wasting Your PhD by Playing It Safe

    Everyone tells you to be bold—but when you’re actually in the middle of a PhD, or building something real, all you feel is pressure. Pressure to finish quickly. To not mess up. To not look like a failure. So what do you do? You choose the “safe” project. You chase metrics. You kill the weird idea that kept you up at night. I’ve seen this story unfold a hundred times—students who could’ve done something incredible… but didn’t. Not because they lacked talent, but because they were afraid. Afraid of what their advisor would say. Afraid of wasting time. Afraid of looking stupid. And here’s the truth no one tells you: that weird, risky idea you’re avoiding? It’s probably the most valuable thing you’ve got. The ones who do the extraordinary aren’t always the smartest. They’re the ones who follow the strange idea anyway. Even when it looks foolish. Even when no one else understands it. Especially then. If you’re in your 20s and terrified of taking a risk—this is your sign. Do the thing you’re scared to do. Not recklessly. But relentlessly. Because in 10 years, the only regret you’ll have is not doing it sooner.

    7분

  4. 7월 31일

    I’m Told I’m a Failure—But I Wouldn’t Change a Thing

    Everyone around me says I’ve made it—tenure, a house, a good life. But inside the system I work in, I’m told—explicitly and implicitly—that I don’t count. That I’m invisible. That I’m failing. Why? Because I didn’t play the game the way I was supposed to. I didn’t chase citations or prestige. I chased joy. Stability. Meaning. Love. This isn’t just my story—it’s a quiet rebellion against a broken definition of success. If you’ve ever felt like you were doing all the right things, but still being told you’re wrong… you’re not alone. This is a message for everyone who’s ever whispered, “What if success isn’t what they say it is?” Take care.

    11분

  5. 7월 29일

    Why I Still Feel Guilty Enjoying Life as a PhD — Even Now

    Why do we feel guilty when we finally enjoy our lives — as PhDs, professors, or researchers? There’s this unspoken rule in academia: if you take weekends off, you’re not serious. If you rest during the summer, you’re lazy. If you enjoy time with your family, you’re not really committed. And yet… the best insights always come during the pause — on the walk, in the shower, during the laughter. This guilt? It has no logic. But we still carry it. In this episode, I reflect on the pressure to always perform, the subtle shame baked into the culture of research, and why the most profound work often begins when we stop working. If you’ve ever felt like resting means failing — this one’s for you. Take a breath. You’re doing okay. And if someone has a problem with that? Screw them.

    10분

  6. 7월 26일

    Smart People Thinking About This Risk For AI

    Artificial intelligence is the most powerful innovation we’ve seen in a generation—maybe ever. I know many people still don’t see the impact it will have. But as someone who studies failure, I can’t help but think about the things we’re not seeing. The things we can’t predict. The blind spots that history has shown up again and again. This isn’t fear-mongering. I’m not saying we should stop building or exploring AI. The cat’s already out of the bag—and much of what’s happening is remarkable. We’re likely entering an era of discoveries that will radically reshape what’s possible in science, medicine, education, and even creativity. But what concerns me isn’t the progress. It’s our arrogance. We often think we can control systems far more complex than we understand. We’ve done it before—nuclear power, financial systems, the internet—and every time, we learn the same hard truth: we’re not as prepared as we thought. What makes AI different is how fast it’s moving, how invisible the risks are, and how hard it will be to reverse once the damage is done. Yes, some dangers are obvious—weaponization, manipulation, data exploitation. But others are subtle. They creep in through overconfidence.

    6분

  7. 7월 24일

    PhD Research Isn’t About Knowledge. It’s About Survival.

    At some point in your PhD or academic career, the pursuit of knowledge turns into a grind for survival — passing comps, getting published, getting grants, staying relevant. The dream fades. But what if the only way to stay whole is to stop taking it seriously? What if joy, play, and laughter are the real resistance?

    12분

  8. 7월 22일

    The Perfect Academic Doesn’t Exist — So Stop Trying to Be One

    There’s no perfect template for success — not in academia, not in life. Even people who look like you, think like you, or grew up with you will want different things. The truth is, you’re unique. And those academic metrics, rankings, or definitions? They don’t define who you are. You don’t need to belong to succeed. You just need to say, “Screw it — I’m doing OK.

    5분
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Professor David Maslach talks about graduate school, research, science, Innovation, and entrepreneurship. The R3ciprocity project is my way to give back as much as I possibly can. I seek to provide insights and tools to change how we understand science, and make it more democratic.

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