Defend, Publish & Lead Podcast

Christine Tulley, Executive Writing Coach & President

Defend, Publish & Lead (formerly Defend & Publish) offers a weekly podcast designed to help get you started (or restarted) on your academic writing projects. Episodes feature a range of topics on writing productivity, including writing project management, strategies for managing writer's block, dissertation advice for students and committee members, pandemic writing strategies, techniques for balancing parenting and writing, promoting your writing and research, and more. Every podcast offers strategies to try and resources to check out.

  1. 1d ago

    DP&L Episode 283: Starting a New Project on the List

    In this episode host Christine Tulley builds on Episode 281 to walk listeners through the transition from finishing one writing project to launching the next. She introduces the idea of thinking in two buckets: short-term, temporary projects (like an upcoming conference presentation) and the next substantive writing project, and shows how she maps both onto a Summer 2026 Project Progress Tracker used in her accountability group. Using her own situation as a live example — a TAA Summer Institute presentation due June 13th followed by a long-neglected, half-finished article she's committed to completing by early August — she emphasizes that the transition period between projects is critical and often underestimated. Key advice includes using a tool like PenZu to jot orientation notes before diving in, locating all project files and scattered materials in advance so that valuable writing time isn't lost to hunting, and allowing ideas for the next project to quietly percolate before the official start date. She closes with a reminder about the TAA Summer Institute on June 12–13, highlighting her own mid-career writing lab, a session for new and aspiring authors led by Dr. Pat Goodson, and a keynote by Brian Alexander on how the AI revolution is reshaping academic and textbook publishing.  Resources Mentioned Just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker TAA Summer Institute Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Episodes Mentioned Episode 281: You Finished a Project Now What? Episode 280 Interview with Greg Lewbart (textbook authoring) Episode 277 Interview with Pat Goodsen (author of Keep Writing) Episode 263 Interview with Brenda Ulrich, Interview with Brenda Ulrich, Academic Publishing Attorney (TAA)   DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    12 min

  2. May 30

    DP&L Episode 282: How AI Is Impacting Scholarly Publishing: An Interview with Bryan Alexander

    In Episode 282 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley interviews Dr. Bryan Alexander about how AI is reshaping textbook and academic publishing. Alexander is a futurist, Georgetown senior scholar, and keynote speaker for the TAA Summer Institute. He offers a broad, forward-looking view, beginning with the larger forces already destabilizing higher education: shifting demographics, changing economics, enrollment pressures, and evolving cultural attitudes toward the academy. He then surveys the technological landscape — the maturation of ebooks, the ongoing challenge of mobile-friendly scholarship, extended reality, and open access — before zeroing in on AI's multifaceted impact. Topics include the spectrum of ways authors are using AI to write (from full generation to light assistance), the thorny intellectual property questions surrounding AI training data and publisher licensing deals, the flood of AI-generated or AI-assisted content entering publishing pipelines, and unresolved questions around disclosure and verification. Alexander also highlights tools like NotebookLM as a virtual colleague for writers and acknowledges the deep divide within academia between AI enthusiasts and those who want it kept out of scholarly work entirely. He closes by arguing that academia is uniquely positioned to lead society's broader reckoning with AI by drawing on expertise across psychology, economics, computer science, and history, and that this moment represents both a challenge and an opportunity for scholarly writers and publishers. Resources Mentioned Bryan Alexander's website TAA Summer Institute Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Episodes Mentioned Episode 280 Interview with Greg Lewbart (textbook authoring) Episode 277 Interview with Pat Goodsen (author of Keep Writing) Episode 263 Interview with Brenda Ulrich, Interview with Brenda Ulrich, Academic Publishing Attorney (TAA) Summer Accountability Group Just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    10 min

  3. May 23

    DP&L Episode 281: You Finished a Project, Now What?

    In Episode 281 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley shares a practical post-project workflow for academics who have just completed a major writing project — drawing directly from her own experience of turning in a book manuscript days earlier. She outlines five key steps. First, genuinely celebrate and resist the urge to immediately dive into the next project. Second, write closing notes (she uses the free online notebook PenZu) to capture unfinished ideas, figure renaming quirks, missing references, and anything that needs attention when page proofs arrive. Third, save and organize browser tabs into a dedicated bookmarks folder rather than simply closing them, so sources are easy to locate later. Fourth, preserve any unused project bits — such as formatted references that didn't make the final manuscript — as a gift to your future self. And fifth, look ahead to the next project with intention. Tulley also uses the episode to highlight Defend, Publish, and Lead's summer accountability group and to preview her upcoming mid-career writing lab at the TAA Summer Institute, where she'll help veteran academics keep their writing pipelines moving despite increasing administrative and mentorship demands.  Slides From This Episode Episodes Mentioned Episode 280: Interview with Dr. Greg Lewbart about Textbook Authoring & TAA Institute Episode 277: Interview with Dr. Pat Goodsen author of "Keep Writing" Episode 263: Interview with Brenda Ulrich, Academic Publishing Attorney Resources Mentioned Summer writing accountability group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded, email Christine Tulley if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker TAA Summer Institute  Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    10 min

  4. May 16

    DP&L Episode 280: Interview with Dr. Greg Lewbart about Textbook Authoring and TAA Institute

    In Episode 280 host Christine Tulley interviews Dr. Greg Lewbart, a veterinarian and board-certified zoological medicine specialist at NC State, about his three-decade journey as a textbook author and editor. Lewbart traces his path from working as a corporate fish veterinarian in the 1980s to publishing his first book on fish clinical cases in 1998 — now in its third edition — and editing contributed volumes on topics like invertebrate medicine, where he coordinates roughly 40 specialist contributors. He reflects on how the publishing landscape has changed, shares practical advice for aspiring textbook authors on crafting proposals, identifying publishers, and managing contributors (including the wisdom of preferring an upfront "no" over a missed deadline), and discusses his long involvement with the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA), which he discovered in 2005 after winning a Texty Award. The episode closes with a preview of Lewbart's upcoming learning lab at the TAA Summer Institute, where he'll guide attendees through the full textbook authoring journey, along with a time management tip drawn from his experience as a marathon runner: chip away consistently in small sessions rather than waiting for large blocks of time.   Resources Mentioned: Summer writing accountability group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded TAA Summer Institute  Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Summer Writing Season Is Coming! Join us for our annual FREE summer planning workshop Register to attend live or get the recording and tools   DPL Resources: Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    16 min

  5. May 9

    DP&L Episode 279: Summer Accountability and a Plan

    In Episode 279 of Defend, Publish, and Lead, host and Executive Writing Coach Christine Tulley tackles one of the most common struggles for faculty: the summer that gets away from you. With the best intentions but little structure, academic summers often slip by before meaningful writing or scholarship gets done. Christine explains exactly why that happens, from kids home from school to family travel to teaching obligations that bleed right into the new term. To help listeners fight back, she introduces a Summer Project Progress Tracker (given away at a recent free webinar) that uses simple yes/no or time-logged entries to build momentum without relying on judgment of a "good" versus "bad" writing day. She also announces the return of the Summer Faculty Writing Group — a weekly Monday accountability check-in running all summer for just $25 — where participants share progress, troubleshoot challenges, and receive a new writing strategy each week. Christine wraps up with a mention of the Textbook and Academic Authors Association's Summer Writing Institute for those looking to deepen their skills. Whether you're aiming for restoration or project completion this summer, this episode is your nudge to build in the structure you need before the season slips by.   Resources Mentioned: Summer writing accountability group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded TAA Summer Institute  Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Summer Writing Season Is Coming! Join us for our annual FREE summer planning workshop Register to attend live or get the recording and tools   DPL Resources: Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    7 min

  6. May 2

    DP&L Episode 278: Parenting While PhDing with Dr. Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Dr. Jenna Morton-Aiken

    In Episode 278 of Defend, Publish, and Lead, host Christine Tulley talks with Dr. Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Dr. Jenna Morton-Aiken about their co-edited book, Parenting While PhDing (Rutgers University Press). The book tackles a topic largely ignored in academic literature — what it's really like to become a parent while pursuing a PhD. Jackie and Jenna speak from personal experience. Their book is designed for two audiences: graduate students balancing parenthood and the administrators who support them. The chapters are short and story-driven, with contributors spanning fields like STEM, medicine, and writing studies. The collection brings in a wide range of voices, including fathers, queer parents, parents of color, and people who have navigated infertility or adoption. The book's core purpose is bigger than logistics. It's about opening up honest conversations on visibility, institutional support, and what it actually looks like when academic life and parenthood intersect. Resources Mentioned: Parenting While PhDing: Surviving and Improving the Working Conditions of Graduate Student Parents. Edited by Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Jenna Morton-Aiken TAA Summer Institute  Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Summer Writing Season Is Coming! Join us for our annual FREE summer planning workshop Register to attend live or get the recording and tools   DPL Resources: Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    24 min

  7. Apr 25

    DP&L Episode 277: Interview with Dr. Pat Goodsen author of Keep Writing

    In Episode 277 of Defend, Publish, and Lead, host Christine Tulley sits down with Dr. Pat Goodson, health education professor turned prolific academic writing coach, to explore practical strategies for building a sustainable writing life. Dr. Goodson shares how her journey into academic writing began not from an English background, but from listening to struggling graduate students and eventually developing a university writing support program called POWER (Promoting Outstanding Writing for Excellence in Research). The conversation covers her latest book, Keep Writing: 101 Strategies for Academic Writers, along with favorites like 90 Days, 90 Ways and Becoming an Academic Writer, all designed to help faculty and grad students move past writing blocks, ditch ineffective habits, and develop intentional, personalized systems. Christine also highlights her campus "write and run" sessions — 22-minute focused writing sprints — as a real-world example of fitting writing into a busy schedule. Both guests close with encouragement for listeners to use the approaching summer as a chance to revisit and strengthen their writing routines, and they give a preview of Dr. Goodson's upcoming Learning Lab, "It Takes a System," at the Textbook and Academic Authors Association Institute. Resources Mentioned: TAA Summer Institute  Register for the TAA Institute for Textbook & Academic Authors, which will be held June 12-13. Get $50 off registration with code DP26. Related Resources: 90 Days, 90 Ways: Inspiration, Tips & Strategies for Academic Writers  by Dr. Patricia Goodson, Dr. Mina Beigi, Dr. Melika Shirmohammadi  Keep Writing: 101 Strategies for Academic Writers Paperback – February 14, 2025  by Patricia Goodson and Margarita Huerta  Summer Writing Season Is Coming! Join us for our annual FREE summer planning workshop Register to attend live or get the recording and tools DPL Resources: Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    19 min

  8. Apr 18

    DP&L Episode 276: Textbook and Academic Authoring Careers

    In Episode 276 Christine Tulley sits down with Dr. Wendy Tietz from Kent State University and Dr. Tracie Miller from Franklin University to talk about textbook authoring careers. This is a path many academics never consider, yet one that can become a defining and decades-long creative endeavor. Both guests share how they stumbled into their first textbook deals not through deliberate planning, but through candid feedback at the right moment. Together, they explore how textbook writing differs from other scholarly genres — particularly its collaborative, audience-driven nature and the constant cycle of revision, edition-planning, and storytelling required to justify each new release to publishers. They also tackle the human side of the work: managing co-author transitions, navigating editor turnover, sustaining a brand, and balancing it all alongside full-time faculty roles. Resources Mentioned: TAA Summer Institute Episode 43 - Five Steps for Effective Writing and Research Collaborations   DPL Resources: Tuesday Toolbox - contact christine@defendpublishandlead.com for subscription information to get more videos like Lesson 13 Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.

    19 min
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About

Defend, Publish & Lead (formerly Defend & Publish) offers a weekly podcast designed to help get you started (or restarted) on your academic writing projects. Episodes feature a range of topics on writing productivity, including writing project management, strategies for managing writer's block, dissertation advice for students and committee members, pandemic writing strategies, techniques for balancing parenting and writing, promoting your writing and research, and more. Every podcast offers strategies to try and resources to check out.

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Tulley, Executive Writing Coach & President
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    290
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Defend, Publish & Lead, LLC. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Defend, Publish & Lead Podcast

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