PhD Lounge

Luis Maia de Freitas

Late-night podcast where I speak with PhDs about their research subjects, their decision on studying it and its importance throughout academic life. A podcast of entertainment and education, whose aim is to approach students and graduates who want to go through their future careers inside or outside of academia with a PhD and for those who are on a moment of uncertainty in continuing their studies further, as if we are having a drink and talk about PhD culture at a lounge on a late-night summer. Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Business email: luisphdlounge@gmail.com

  1. Solo Session: Do Employers care about your PhD?

    4D AGO

    Solo Session: Do Employers care about your PhD?

    Students and Graduates! Ever been told, “I don’t care that you have a PhD,” and felt the wind leave your sails? I take that line apart and rebuild it into a roadmap for landing industry roles where your research mindset becomes a competitive advantage. Across this candid session, I unpack ​Decoding the industry value system and outcomes​Mapping thesis work to product thinking​Addressing assumptions about lack of experience​Turning research stories into time-boxed deliveries​Responding to stereotypes with clear proof​Practical steps to build networks and internshipsDid you enjoy this late-night solo session? Say your thoughts below. Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast Bibliography: TurningScience. (2018, January 20). Why won’t industry managers hire PhDs? [Video]. Phdcareersholly. (2021, December 13). What industries really value… and how to leverage this in your post-PhD job hunt. PostGradual: The PhD Careers Blog. Chen, L., Mewburn, I., et al. (2025). PhD employability beyond academia: an analysis of industry skills emphasis through a cultural capital lens. Higher Education Research & Development, 45(1), 81–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2515212

    5 min
  2. Late-Night Talk: Sam Webster, PhD. Anatomy, Gaming, and what a PhD Really Teaches.

    JAN 28

    Late-Night Talk: Sam Webster, PhD. Anatomy, Gaming, and what a PhD Really Teaches.

    Students and Graduates! Samuel Webster, PhD is a lecturer in Anatomy at Swansea University, a YouTuber and podcaster. Sam shares content about anatomy beyond his usual lectures, building an online classroom, and why doing hard things matters more than titles whether in short or long formats. Follow Sam Webster's work on his official website, https://samwebster.net/, where you can find his YouTube channel under his name, his podcast Dissectable Me 5 Minute Anatomy, and many more. Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    1h 9m
  3. Late-Night Talk: Jade Goodwin, Miriam Beyers, PhD and Nathan John. Two Entrepreneurs and a Careers Advisor having a Round Table

    JAN 21

    Late-Night Talk: Jade Goodwin, Miriam Beyers, PhD and Nathan John. Two Entrepreneurs and a Careers Advisor having a Round Table

    Students and graduates! Miriam Beyers is a double PhD in Environmental Science from the Universities of Copenhagen and Ghent, and is the founder and CEO of WonTime, offering tailored workshops about time management and productivity exercises around wellbeing and mindfulness. Nathan John is the founder and CEO of Rewise, an Award-winning business which creates educational projects by combining impactful social outreach with core customer values. Jade Goodwin is a careers advisor at Swansea University, helping current students and graduates to find employment and to develop high demand skills in the job market through mock interviews and skill set workshops around employability. WonTime: https://www.wontime.eu/Careerboost email: careerboost@swansea.ac.ukRewise: https://www.rewise.co.uk/ Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    1h 26m
  4. Solo Session: The PhD doesn't make you Smarter!

    JAN 14

    Solo Session: The PhD doesn't make you Smarter!

    Students and Graduates! A PhD doesn’t make you smarter.” Bold claim—or honest truth?  The idea that a PhD proves superior intelligence and show how real expertise comes from focus, method, and clear communication. In this solo session, rarity fuels the myth, where limits sit, and how to talk about research without distance or jargon. Here's the breakdown:Why the “PhDs are smarter” myth sticksWhat narrow expertise actually looks likeMethods, questions, and building argumentsThe role of patience, graft, and curiosityHow jargon creates distance in outreachUsing plain language to invite dialogueSetting boundaries on expertise with honestyEncouraging others to pursue the path by example Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    4 min

  5. JAN 7

    Solo Session: The Rule of Three in PhD

    A doctorate can feel like juggling knives in a windstorm—until you simplify your approach. We break down a practical rule of three that keeps your research clear, effective, and memorable: strategy, management, and communication. Rather than drowning in to‑dos, you’ll learn how to design a flexible plan, turn that plan into steady weekly progress, and share your work so real people understand why it matters.We start with strategy as the anchor for your PhD. You’ll hear how to focus your question, align aims with your supervisor’s interests, and set milestones that adapt to new data and unexpected detours. Then we move to management, where we prioritise high‑impact tasks, schedule deep work when energy is highest, and build simple systems—weekly sprints, daily next steps, and realistic buffers around supervision meetings—that reduce stress and create momentum. Finally, we explore communication beyond conferences: using plain language, relatable examples, and honest stories about setbacks to connect with undergraduates, colleagues outside your field, and the wider public.Across the conversation, we highlight small habits with outsized returns: treating research as a pipeline, tracking lead indicators you control, and pressure‑testing ideas by explaining them over coffee. You’ll leave with a lean toolkit for navigating uncertainty, focusing on what matters, and turning complex ideas into messages that stick. If you’re a current PhD, a prospective applicant, or a supervisor looking to guide your students, this is a clear, human framework you can use right away.Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who needs a simpler way to steer their PhD. Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    4 min
  6. Late-Night Talk: Ewelina Kurtys, PhD: FinalSpark and Biocomputing

    12/17/2025

    Late-Night Talk: Ewelina Kurtys, PhD: FinalSpark and Biocomputing

    Students and Graduates! Ewelina Kurtys is a PhD in neuroscience, business developer and technology advisor at FinalSpark. With more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, Ewelina's work at FinalSpark is about market-planning, strategy and investment in working computers through human living neurons.  Personal website: ewelinakurtys.comEwelina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys/ FinalSpark: https://finalspark.com/ Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Sportify 💣 CHRISTMAS SALE STARTS NOW 15% OFF WITH CODE XMAS15 | 🚚 FREE DELIVERY OVER £40. Affiliate Link below: https://www.sportifycards.com/?ref=phdlounge

    35 min
  7. Late-Night Talk: Nikita Bedov. Rethinking Food Chains: What Happens When Predator Eats Predator?

    11/12/2025

    Late-Night Talk: Nikita Bedov. Rethinking Food Chains: What Happens When Predator Eats Predator?

    Students and Graduates! Nikita is a PhD candidate in Biology at Swansea University who submitted his PhD on the behaviour and ecology of predator interactions, and working at two field sites in sub-Saharan Africa to quantify the famous fight between mongooses and snakes. He also has his YouTube channel, Diary of the Adventurer and the podcast Baffling Biology. Nikita explores how mongooses and snakes flip the food chain, why threat discrimination is context-driven, and what long-term field data reveal about venom resistance and group defence. Along the way, Nikita shares his thoughts on funding, field logistics, science communication, and making space for creative projects during a PhD.• mutual predation between mongooses and snakes in Africa• threat discrimination shaped by movement, learning and context• venom resistance in mongooses and pup vulnerability• group mobbing against pythons versus solo risk• field sites, habituation and camera-trap ecosystems• self-funding, teaching work and practical trade-offs• Diary of the Adventurer and Baffling Biology platforms• science without hype and avoiding dramatization• choosing supervisors, writing early and skill-building Follow his YouTube channel Diary of the Adventurer: http://www.youtube.com/@diaryoftheadventurer Nikita's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-bedov-2a2019174/ Nikita's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikitaecras/ Baffling Biology: https://bafflingbiologypodcast.weebly.com/ Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

    1h 54m
  8. Solo Session: What does it mean to be a PhD in the 21st Century?

    10/22/2025

    Solo Session: What does it mean to be a PhD in the 21st Century?

    In this solo session, I share a candid reflection on passing the viva, then map the four pillars of a modern PhD: funding, mental health, career strategy, and networking. Practical stories, honest stats, and a nudge to build options beyond the thesis Viva highlights and next steps. Funding sources, tradeoffs, and timing. Mental health risks, supports, and pacing. Academic vs industry routes and optionality. Entrepreneurial mindset for uncertain markets. Networking as social capital, not transactions. Online presence for visibility and community. Choosing the PhD with eyes open. Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure! Hazell, C. M., Chapman, L., Valeix, S. F., Roberts, P., Niven, J. E., & Berry, C. (2020). Understanding the mental health of doctoral researchers: a mixed methods systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. Systematic Reviews, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01443-1 Horwitz, I. M. (2025). The Entrepreneurial Scholar: A New Mindset for Success in Academia and Beyond. Princeton University Press. Last, A. (2025). The ‘creative thesis’ in the academic ‘anxiety machine.’ Area. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.70007 Pham, T. (2025). What really contributes to employability of PhD graduates in uncertain labour markets? Globalisation Societies and Education, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2023.2192908 Satinsky, E. N., Kimura, T., Kiang, M. V., Abebe, R., Cunningham, S., Lee, H., Lin, X., Liu, C. H., Rudan, I., Sen, S., Tomlinson, M., Yaver, M., & Tsai, A. C. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Ph.D. students. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93687-7 Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.ukDonation tab - https://www.phdlounge.co.uk/donateBuzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/supportInstagram: @phdlmfLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast SportifySportify personalises FIFA style sporting cards with a 10% when using the code PHDLOUNGE10Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    27 min
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About

Late-night podcast where I speak with PhDs about their research subjects, their decision on studying it and its importance throughout academic life. A podcast of entertainment and education, whose aim is to approach students and graduates who want to go through their future careers inside or outside of academia with a PhD and for those who are on a moment of uncertainty in continuing their studies further, as if we are having a drink and talk about PhD culture at a lounge on a late-night summer. Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Business email: luisphdlounge@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Luis Maia de Freitas
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Luis Maia de Freitas
  • Show Website
    PhD Lounge