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

    6天前

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

    10月29日

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

    10月16日

    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 分钟
  4. Steven Rogelberg on Transforming Academic Meetings (CAL130, S7E3)

    10月1日

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

    9月17日

    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

    1 小时 1 分钟
  6. Season 7 Kickoff: Fresh Starts and Being Intentional (CAL128 S7E1)

    9月3日

    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 分钟
  7. Creating Peer Support Groups (CAL126, S6, E20)

    6月18日

    Creating Peer Support Groups (CAL126, S6, E20)

    If you are curious about how to set up your own peer support group, inspired by what Johanna Stadlbauer shared about what Uni Graz are doing, then this episode might get you started. I walk through some of the ‘things to think about’ when setting up peer groups such as the group’s purpose, the focus, and who that would involve, also the group size, meeting frequency and commitment, and choosing between structured or informal formats and related roles. I then walk through two examples of more structured formats: action learning sets which take more of a coaching approach, and peer mentoring models that take more of a consulting or advising approach. I also give some examples of more informal peer groups.  Regardless of approach, good listening, confidentiality and a commitment to genuine participation are key. I also refer to some resources and links for further reading and more detailed overview of steps, as well as some related podcasts. Whether you're looking for mutual support, expert guidance, or simply a sense of belonging, there's a group format that can work for you. Give it a try! 00:00 CAL126 Exploring Peer Group Support Models 00:29 Introduction 01:36 Purpose 03:03 Focus 05:03 How Many 06:17 How Often 07:45 Format 08:24 Roles 09:44 Critical Ingredients 11:38 Walking Through Some Examples 12:35 Example: Peer Coaching Groups - Action Learning Set 20:39 Example: Peer Mentoring Groups 25:04 Example: Informal Peer Support Groups 28:23 Recap 30:07 Do What Works for You - Suggestions 33:07 Closing Call and Pointers 36:36 End Related Links Action Learning Sets guidance by Caroline Doherty via the UK NHS Action Learning Sets page Action Learning Sets at Uni of St Andrews as example in an academic context Graz Call for participation in their Collegial Development Programme Kollegiale Beratung in sechs Phasen (Collegial Advising in 6 Phases)  Descriptive Consultancy with protocol description Balint Group Method The No Club book and No Club Guidance Related Podcasts Michael Bungay Stanier on the power of curiosity and taming your advice monster a href="https://changingacademiclife.captivate.fm/episode/rw8-asking-good-questions-empowering-good-people"...

    37 分钟

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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.

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