Changing Academic Life

Geraldine Fitzpatrick

What can we do, individually and collectively, to change academic life to be more sustainable, collaborative and effective? This podcast series offers long-form conversations with academics and thought leaders who share stories and insights, as well as bite-size musings on specific topics drawing on literature and personal experience. For more information go to https://changingacademiclife.com Also see https://geraldinefitzpatrick.com to leave a comment. NOTE: this is an interim site and missing transcripts for the older podcasts. Please contact me to request specific transcripts in the meanwhile.

  1. Infertility, Career Choices, and Compassion (CAL 134, S7E7)

    2D AGO

    Infertility, Career Choices, and Compassion (CAL 134, S7E7)

    In this very personal solo episode, I share my journey through infertility and the impact it had on my academic and personal life. Inspired by Susan Dray's story, I decided to share our challenges of trying to start a family while managing a career in academia. I discusses the physical and emotional toll of infertility treatments, the loneliness of not sharing my struggles with colleagues, and the moral dilemmas we faced. Mine is just one story, and we can be sure that many of the people we work with are dealing with their own challenges or carrying their own sadnesses so this is a call for more empathy, kindness, and support in academic environments, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the human side of our lives. I conclude with a message of support for those facing similar challenges and a reflection on how my career path, though unintended, brought its own form of fulfillment. 00:29 Introduction: A Personal Journey 01:05 The Inspiration Behind This Episode 03:58 Opening Up About Women's Health Issues 07:23 The Struggles of Infertility 12:15 Navigating the Moral Dilemmas 14:51 Navigating Our Journey 17:43 Navigating Career and Personal Life 22:44 Moving On and Finding New Paths 26:48 Things Coming Together in the Move to London 30:13 Reflecting on an Academic Career Without Children 33:53 Final Reflections Related Link CHI Stories @CHI2017: Midwifery, Babies, HCI: “Doktormutter”hood and Sustainable Academic Life

    39 min
  2. Susan Dray (Part 2) on listening, mentoring, and adversity (CAL133, S7E6)

    NOV 12

    Susan Dray (Part 2) on listening, mentoring, and adversity (CAL133, S7E6)

    In Part 2 of our conversation, Susan Dray continues to share deep insights about the importance of self-awareness and authenticity, empathy and listening with heart, and dealing with professional discomfort and personal adversity. She discusses her mentoring style, centred around being empathetic and supportive. And she talks about the importance of service and community, as well as the current challenges faced by early career researchers. Susan also shares deeply personal challenges and losses, and the accompanying emotional journey of accepting and learning from setbacks, the value of honouring people's experiences, and the importance of collaborative support. She reminds us, paraphrased here, that few people understand how special they are, and that what really matters is who you are. Because this is going to mean that what you do is important and makes a difference. Susan has certainly made a difference.  Overview: 00:29 Introduction to Part Two with Susan Dray 02:18 Navigating Discomfort and Deep Learning 05:47 Mentoring and Community Support 08:51 HCI in Africa and Global Recognition 13:28 Supporting Early Career Researchers 19:12 Mentoring and the Joy of Service 22:11 Reflections on Mentoring and Authenticity 26:08 Evolving Roles, Willingness to be a Beginner 29:40 Postscript - Personal Reflections and Adversities 30:55 Lessons from Sailing 32:21 Coping with Loss and Finding Positivity 35:08 Final Reflections on Life and Legacy 36:50 Wrap up 38:27 End Related Links: Susan Dray's webpage and LinkedIn profile

    38 min
  3. Susan Dray (Part 1) on navigating interstices: academia, industry and global consulting (CAL132, S7E5)

    OCT 29

    Susan Dray (Part 1) on navigating interstices: academia, industry and global consulting (CAL132, S7E5)

    The wonderful Dr Susan Dray shares her journey from obtaining a PhD in experimental and physiological psychology at UCLA to becoming a pivotal figure in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Susan recounts her transition from academia to industry, including roles at Honeywell and American Express, and her eventual shift to independent consulting. She discusses the evolution of HCI and human factors, the significance of ethnographic studies, and the importance of listening with one's heart in diverse cultural contexts. Susan also reflects on the birth of SIGCHI, organizational challenges, and her expansive international work. Her insights provide a rich, historical perspective on the ongoing interplay between technology, human behavior, and organizational dynamics, and on the contextual and cultural nuances in technology adoption. She also demonstrates the power of curiosity, self reflection and a service mindset.  Overview 00:29 Episode Introduction 02:49 Susan's Background 03:52 Transition from Academia to Industry 05:37 Early Challenges at Honeywell 06:56 Gaithersburg Conference and SIGCHI Formation 10:15 Human Factors and Computing Systems 13:34 Human Technology Impacts at Honeywell 16:40 The Mindset of a Scientist 22:59 Mentorship and Career Advice 26:30 Career Transitions and Reflections 28:06 Early Challenges in Consulting 30:12 Setting Up a Consulting Business 31:59 International Projects and Usability Studies 38:22 Navigating Cultural Differences and Lessons in Challenges 45:24 Innovative Research in Korea and South Africa 49:26 Embracing Discomfort Curiousity and Self Reflection 52:17 Wrap up Related Links Susan Dray webpage  and LinkedIn ACM SIGCHI Special Interest Group On Computer-Human Interaction

    54 min
  4. On the art, heart and science of 1-1 meetings (CAL131, S7E4)

    OCT 16

    On the art, heart and science of 1-1 meetings (CAL131, S7E4)

    Building on the last episode’s topic of meetings, the focus here is on our one-on-one meetings. In his book, 'Glad We Met: The Art and Science of One-to-One Meetings,' Steven Rogelberg discusses how these meetings can be practical, personal, and developmental. We can also think of these as the four Ps of care—process, progress, product, and person. Drawing on insights from Rogelberg’s book, along with some timely recent posts, I draw attention to the role of empathy, authentic communication, and regular, intentional meetings in supporting PhD students, postdocs, and research assistants. Practical tips include setting regular meeting cadences, being attentive and present, and ensuring a respectful and effective meeting environment. These are all skills we can work on to better support the practical, personal and developmental in our 1-1 meetings. Overview: 00:29 Introduction to Effective Meetings 01:55 The Importance of One-on-One Meetings 03:25 The Four Ps of Care in Meetings 04:14 Practical Aspects of Supervisory Meetings 05:06 Caring for the Person in Meetings 05:35 Skills for Effective Meetings 09:12 Student Contributions to Meetings 11:01 Preparation and Presence in Meetings 12:18 Time Management and Respect in Meetings 13:23 Listening and Asking Good Questions 14:25 The Cadence of Meetings 17:55 Practical Suggestions for Meeting Environments 19:14 Career Conversations and Resources 20:20 Conclusion: The Art, Heart, and Science of Meetings 24:02 End Related links: Steven Rogelberg's webpage, LinkedIn profile, and Meeting resources and previous CAL episode on Transforming Academic Meetings Book: Rogelberg, S. G. (2024). Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1: 1 Meetings. Oxford University Press. Recent posts mentioned: #116 - 6 Communication Strategies to Get What You Need From Your PhD Advisor (Without Being Annoying), Emmanuel Tsekleves , PhDtoProf Newsletter 1 Oct 2025 A toolkit to foster great career conversations, Rachel Chin and Rachel Herries, Auditorium Blog, 7 Oct 2025 Related Changing Academic Life episodes: Oscar Trimboli (Part 1) on being better listeners  Oscar Trimboli (Part 2) on how to listen deeply  Michael Bungay Stanier on the power of curiosity and

    24 min
  5. Steven Rogelberg on Transforming Academic Meetings (CAL130, S7E3)

    OCT 1

    Steven Rogelberg on Transforming Academic Meetings (CAL130, S7E3)

    Dr. Steven Rogelberg, an organisational psychologist from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, draws on his extensive research on workplace meetings to share how we might make acadmic meetings better. We discuss the inefficiencies of academic meetings, with Steven suggesting academics suffer from particularly ineffective meeting practices. He offers practical advice on improving meeting productivity, particularly for Faculty meetings, such as using targeted agendas and smaller group discussions, and stresses the value of bringing scientific rigour to meeting management. He also critiques the hybrid meeting format, advocating instead for fully virtual or in-person meetings. If you are looking for more insights about evidence-based meeting practices, I can highly recommend his books 'The Surprising Science of Meetings' and 'Glad We Met: The Art and Science of One-to-One Meetings' .  Overview: 00:29 Introduction: The Meeting Dilemma 01:42 Introducing Dr. Steven Rogelberg 03:56 The Academic Meeting Problem 09:23 Common Mistakes in Leading Meetings 11:06 Strategies for Effective Meetings 13:12 Having a Meeting About Meetings 14:34 The Importance of Feedback and Audits 15:55 The Faculty Meeting 18:15 Challenges of Large and Hybrid Meetings 19:21 More Inclusive Alternatives to Large Meetings 22:20 Hybrid Meetings and Virtual Meetings 23:54 Final Takeaways and Resources 25:46 Postscript 30:16 End Related links: Steven's web page, LinkedIn page and online meeting resources https://www.stevenrogelberg.com Steven's books: Rogelberg, S. G. (2019). The surprising science of meetings: How you can lead your team to peak performance. Oxford University Press. Rogelberg, S. G. (2024). Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1: 1 Meetings. Oxford University Press. And his academic publications, for example the two we mentioned: Rogelberg, S., Kreamer, L. M., & Gray, J. (2025). Thirty Years of Meeting Science: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 13. Rogelberg, S. G., King, E. B., & Alonso, A. (2022). How we can bring IO psychology science and evidence-based practices to the public. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 15(2), 259-272. And here is a a...

    30 min
  6. Deborah Boehm-Davis on career paths, leadership, and change (CAL129, S7E2)

    SEP 17

    Deborah Boehm-Davis on career paths, leadership, and change (CAL129, S7E2)

    Professor Emeritus Deborah Boehm Davis, George Mason University in the US, is one of the pioneers of the CHI conference. Deborah discusses her varied career building from her psychology background and spanning roles in human factors at Bell Labs, NASA, and General Electric. She then talks about her extensive tenure at George Mason University in both faculty and administrative/leadership roles, eventually becoming the dean of a college. Deborah shares reflections on career transitions, the importance of making a difference, effective leadership, the significance of collaborative work, and the challenges and strategies for navigating academic leadership, as well as managing academic responsibilities alongside family life. She also talks about her last industry role at Oculus Research and offers insights into the skills and approaches necessary for effective academic and industry leadership. The conversation also touches on the importance of interdisciplinary work and mentorship in academia. Overview: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Deborah Boehm-Davis: Career Overview 03:24 Early Career and Human Factors 04:54 Transition to Academia, Balancing Faculty and Administration Roles 09:38 Reflections on Career and Impact 17:39 Navigating Academic Leadership 25:14 Collaborations, Interdisciplinary Work and Collegiality 28:18 Interdisciplinarity and Being Strategic 32:57 Transitioning to Leadership Roles, Developing Leadership Skills 33:53 Handling Difficult Conversations 36:39 Balancing Decisions and Stakeholder Concerns 40:29 Engaging Faculty and Effective Communication 44:51 Leadership in Industry vs. Academia 46:54 Mentorship and Support Systems 50:24 Proudest Achievements and Work Skills Course 56:28 Reflections on Women in Academia 59:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 01:00:46 End Related links: Video of a 2024 talk to the Uni of Virginia HFES Student Chapter: “A Career in Human Factors: A Lifetime of Change” [40:51 mins] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-boehm-davis-05b50 Website: https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/dbdavis

    1h 1m
  7. Season 7 Kickoff: Fresh Starts and Being Intentional (CAL128 S7E1)

    SEP 3

    Season 7 Kickoff: Fresh Starts and Being Intentional (CAL128 S7E1)

    In the first episode of season seven, the 10th year the Changing Academic Life podcast, I invite us to reflect on the theme of being intentional about what we want for ourselves at the beginning of this new academic year for many of us in the northern hemisphere, or for any temporal landmark that is relevant for you. As example and inspiration, Anna Cox from UCL shortly shares her strategies for setting clear priorities, maintaining work-life balance, and managing her remaining 'available time to promise', recognising every yes entails a no to something else. This is a great example of the 'fresh start effect', using the temporal landmark of a new academic year, as talked about by Katy Milkman and colleagues, and reminds us of the importance of creating pauses for reflection. So how will you be more intentional about your fresh start? 00:34 Introduction 01:27 Starting With Intention 05:28 Anna's Fresh Start  07:05 Thinking About Priorities 09:01 Available Time to Promise 10:56 Creating Pauses to Think 12:20 Re-iterating Anna's Key Questions 16:29 Wrapping Up  17:57 Pointers to Other Related Episodes 19:24 Wrapping up 20:31 End Related links: eWorkResearch group at UCL and Anna’s webpage and WLB definition  Dai, H., Milkman, K. L., & Riis, J. (2014). The fresh start effect: Temporal landmarks motivate aspirational behavior. Management Science, 60(10), 2563-2582. Loleen Berdahl, How to quit promising time and energy you don’t have See www.changingacademiclife.com for an easy search for the related podcasts: Anna Cox, Marta Cecchinato, Johanna Stadlbauer, Amy Ko, Carmen Neustaedter, Katherine Isbister, Vikki Wright

    21 min
  8. Season Reflections: Cultivating a Good Academic Life (CAL127, S6, E21)

    JUL 16

    Season Reflections: Cultivating a Good Academic Life (CAL127, S6, E21)

    In this final episode of the 2024-2025 season, I reflect on key themes emerging from the past 20 episodes of 'Changing Academic Life.' These are around creating supportive and inclusive cultures in academia, the role of leadership, career transitions, wellbeing and self-care, and the importance of community. It reminds us to engage in reflection, value our own and others' wellbeing, and contribute to positive changes in academic environments.  Cultivating a good academic life for all is a collective effort. 00:00 CAL127 Season reflections 02:44 Supportive cultures 06:35 Career transitions, choices 11:39 Wellbeing & self care 13:56 Community 16:00 Closing 18:29 End

    18 min
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About

What can we do, individually and collectively, to change academic life to be more sustainable, collaborative and effective? This podcast series offers long-form conversations with academics and thought leaders who share stories and insights, as well as bite-size musings on specific topics drawing on literature and personal experience. For more information go to https://changingacademiclife.com Also see https://geraldinefitzpatrick.com to leave a comment. NOTE: this is an interim site and missing transcripts for the older podcasts. Please contact me to request specific transcripts in the meanwhile.

Information

  • Creator
    Geraldine Fitzpatrick
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Geraldine Fitzpatrick
  • Show Website
    Changing Academic Life

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