Description

Content note: this episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including depression and suicidal thoughts. While the conversation is not graphic or detailed, these themes are addressed openly. You may wish to skip from 15 to 23 minutes if you'd prefer not to listen to that part of the episode. If the issues raised in this episode concern you, you can access support and resources in the show notes.

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What happens when your dream job slips through your fingers? In this episode of Research Culture Uncovered, Dr Taryn Bell and Dr Ged Hall dive into Ged's own story of professional failure.

Following our first episode on failure last December, we embark on a deeply personal discussion about how it feels to fail, the emotional fallout from failing, and what helped Ged to get back on his feet.

Key takeaways:

1. We can easily become fixated on trying to pinpoint the reasons for failure, rather than trying to manage the feelings that come along with it, and in the long-term this can be harmful.
2. Never underestimate the power of talking to others - whether that's colleagues, loved ones, or trained mental health professionals.
3. Universities are full of opportunities to help – but you need to be aware they’re there, and willing to take them up.

Resources and support:

• HelpGuide's Find Help - a list of international mental health helplines
• 10 Healthy Ways to Cope With Failure

And don't forget to listen to our December 2024 episode, Navigating Failure in Academia.

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: 

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management
• Meet...