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The Other Kind of DoctorEp 33 The FINAL Episode (of Season 2)Welcome to the last episode of season 2 of The Other Kind of Doctor podcast! As Gemma and Gaia are graduating this year, and are stepping down as hosts, they spend this episode looking back over their PhD journeys, and reflecting on things they have learnt along the way.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Why do we feel nostalgic for old media?The Other Kind of Doctor podcast will be returning in Autumn 2025, with new host, new topics, and new guests!For...2025-05-0729 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 32 Building a successful supervisory relationship - with Katherine GriffithsThis week, Gemma and Ryan are joined by Katherine Griffiths. Katherine is a PhD student at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Katherine talks about her experience in building a successful supervisor-student relationship, balancing being independent and needing help from your supervisor, and how to manage expectations. Finally, she provides her top tips for PhD students wanting to build a positive supervisory relationship.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - How long does it take for a house to feel like a home?For a full transcription...2025-05-0632 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 31 Impact during the PhD - with Emily GowThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Emily Gow. Emily is a research impact manager at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Emily explains what impact is, why it is important, and how this differs from public engagement. Finally, she provides her top tips for PhD students wanting to maximise their research impact. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do we prefer the countryside when we get older?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)2025-04-1428 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 30 Nature and the PhD - with Prof Dawn WatlingThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Prof Dawn Watling. Dawn is associate pro-vice-chancellor of postgraduate research at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Dawn shares why it is important to go out into nature as a PhD student, whether house plants count as nature, and what to do if you have limited access to natural spaces. Finally, she provides her top tips for making the most out of nature.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Is it true that opposites attract?For a full...2025-04-0627 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 29 Building a PhD CommunityThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss how to build a stronger PhD community. They discuss how a strong PhD community can help with managing loneliness, and provide tips on how to get things started.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - What is better, audiobooks or physical books?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)Check out our social media accounts for bonus content and behind the scene footage.Twitter (X): @otherdoctor...2025-03-3028 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 28 Careers in Industry - with Dr Tim HolmesThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Tim Holmes. Tim earned a PhD in neuroscience at Royal Holloway, and later transitioned to industry, working with clients such as Coca-Cola, Apple, and Disney. In this episode, Tim shares his experience of transitioning to industry, what motivated him to make this change, and describes the differences between academic research and industry research. Lastly, he gives his top tips for PhD students looking to pursue a career in industry. Find Tim's LinkedIn profile here. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this...2025-03-0436 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 27 Perfectionism during the PhDThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss how to deal with perfectionism as a PhD student. They discuss why perfectionism is more common in academics, why this is not always helpful while studying for a PhD, and provide some tips for dealing with perfectionism.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - What are some of the most unusual research areas?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)Check out our social media accounts for bonus...2025-02-2727 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 26 The Creative PhD - with Brandon WadeThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Brandon Wade. Brandon is a PhD student and lecturer in the Media Arts department at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Brandon shares his experience of studying for his creative PhD, discusses what the application process was like, and highlights some of the challenges he has experienced. Lastly, he gives his top tips for individuals wanting to pursue a creative PhD.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Why do we rewatch TV shows so much?For a full...2025-02-1028 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 25 Managing chronic illness as a PhD student - with Simran Frontain**Please note: This episode contains discussions of mental health and suicide**If you are experiencing distress, please contact Samaritans on 116 123, open 24/7, or call 999 (UK) in an emergency This week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Simran Frontain. Simran is a PhD student in the Classics department at Royal Holloway, University of London. In this episode, Simran shares her experience in academia with chronic illnesses, and how this has influenced her education journey, as well as explaining what support supervisors need to give to students that have chronic illnesses. Lastly, she gives a key piece of...2025-02-0326 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 24 Conferences and Networking - with Ian LaceyThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Ian Lacey. Ian is a PhD student in the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London. In this episode, Ian shares why PhD students should be networking/ going to conferences, how to get over the awkwardness of chatting to people you’ve never met, as well as discussing the importance of a strong online profile. Lastly, he gives his top tips for PhD students wanting wanting to network at conferences and events. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - H...2025-01-2833 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 23 Looking after your wellbeing - with Dr Vanita ChamdalThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Vanita Chamdal. Vanita is a Teaching Fellow at Royal Holloway and a therapist. In this episode, Vanita shares why it is important to look after your wellbeing whilst also making sure you are still productive, and what support supervisors and universities should be providing to PhD students. Lastly, she gives his top tips for protecting your wellbeing when studying. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do astrological signs influence personality?For a full transcription of the...2025-01-1333 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 22 Securing a Research Post-Doc - with Dr Jamie MoffattThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Jamie Moffatt. Jamie is a Post-doctoral Fellow. In this episode, Jamie shares his experience of securing a research post-doctoral position after his PhD, and discusses how to approach potential labs as well as how to know if a post-doc is right for you. Lastly, he gives his top tips for PhD students wanting to apply for a research post-docStay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - How do dog and cat people differ?For a full transcription...2024-12-1129 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 21 Taking an Interruption during the PhD - with Dr Matthew TalbotThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Matthew Talbot. Matt is a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. In this episode, Matt shares his experience of taking an interruption during the PhD and how to get back into a routine after taking one, as well as discussing what universities and supervisors can do to support PhD students wanting to take an interruption. Lastly, he gives his top tips for PhD students wanting to take an interruption.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's...2024-12-0429 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 20 PhDs and RelationshipsThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Courtney Hooton. Courtney is a Psychology PhD student at Royal Holloway, and is also guest manager for The Other Kind of Doctor podcast! In this episode, Although they aren't relationship experts, Gaia, Gemma and Courtney share their experience of balancing a relationship while studying for a PhD, and discuss tips for supporting a partner that is studying for a PhD.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Are naps a good thing to do?For a full transcription...2024-11-1237 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 19 Getting back into a routine after summerThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss how to get back into a routine after summer! They discuss we struggle to get back into a routine after a break, and suggest their top tips for getting back into the swing of PhD-Life.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - How much sleep do you actually need? For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)Check out our social media accounts for bonus content a...2024-11-0423 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 18 Surviving your first term as a PhD studentWelcome back to Season 2 of The Other Kind of Doctor! This week, Gemma and Gaia discuss how to survive your first term as PhD student! They share the challenges they faced when they started their PhD, how to transition to a new way of working, and establishing your support network as a PhD student.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do fidget toys help with concentration?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)2024-10-2824 minThe Other Kind of DoctorBONUS EPISODE! Best bits and bloopers from Season 1We get a lot of comments on our podcast explaining how 'professional' and 'seamless' our podcast episodes are... So we thought we would share our many bloopers from season 1! We had such a great time recording season 1, and we will be back very soon with exciting new content for season 2. Enjoy (and apologies to our supervisors) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-08-2831 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 17 Working full-time during the PhD - with Lewis ChampionThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Lewis Champion. Lewis is a History PhD student at Royal Holloway, and is also working full-time as a Data Analyst. In this episode, Lewis shares his experience of working full-time while studying for a PhD, and discusses how to maintain a good work-life balance, as well as some of the challenges he has experienced. Lastly, he gives his top tips for working full-time while completing a PhD.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do lie detectors actually work?2024-06-1725 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 16 Research and Practice - with Jo GraceThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Jo Grace. Jo is studying for a PhD at the University of Southampton, and is also the founder of The Sensory Project. In this episode, Jo shares her experience of transitioning from working within practice to working in research, and discusses what can be done to improve collaboration between research and practice. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do highlighters actually help learning, or do they just look pretty?For a full transcription of the episode, please...2024-06-1028 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 15 Completing a Long-distance PhD - with Sarah RichardsonThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Sarah Richardson. Sarah is an English PhD student ay Royal Holloway. In this episode, Sarah shares her experience as a long-distance PhD student, how to set boundaries when working from home, as well some of the challenges she has experienced. Lastly, she gives her top tips for long-distance PhD students.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Is it better to take handwritten notes or computer notes?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website...2024-06-0426 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 14 The Professional Practice PhD - with Arshia ChoudhuryThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Arshia Choudhury. Arshia is studying for a DClinPsy (Clinical Psychology Doctorate) at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Arshia shares her experience of studying for her professional practice PhD, how this differs to a research PhD, as well some of the challenges she has experienced. Lastly, she gives her top tips for students studying a professional practice PhD.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - What influence has 'BookTok' had on getting adults back into reading?For a full...2024-05-2733 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 13 The PhD as an international student - with Cheng-Yu HsiehThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Cheng-Yu Hsieh. Cheng-Yu is a third year PhD student at Royal Holloway. In this episode, Cheng-Yu shares his experience as an international PhD student, how to approach potential supervisors, as well some of the challenges he has experienced. Lastly, he gives his top tips for international PhD students.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - What are the wellbeing effects of dancing to your favourite songs?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https...2024-05-2032 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 12 Overcoming writer's blockThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss overcoming writer's block by following advice from Dr Vicky Penn, who is a researcher development officer at Royal Holloway. They discuss different techniques such as the pomodoro method and freewriting, and reflect on their own experiences of (trying to) overcome writer's block.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Is taking your annual leave really that important?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)Check out our social...2024-05-1319 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 11 Changing academic fields - with Ryan JefferiesThis week, Gaia is joined by our very own Ryan Jefferies. Ryan is a first year PhD student in Psychology at Royal Holloway, but his academic career started with an undergraduate degree in History at UCL. In this episode, Ryan shares his experience of changing academic field, taking a long break from academia, and finding the love of his life in the process. Lastly, he gives his top tips for students wanting to change academic field. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Does having a creative hobby help...2024-05-0723 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 10 Doing a study visit during your PhD - with Pip BrownThis week, Gemma and Gaia Ryan are joined by Pip Brown. Pip is a third year PhD student from the University of Warwick, currently at Royal Holloway on their second study visit. In this episode, Pip shares their experience of doing a study visit during the PhD, how to approach potential research groups for study visits, as well as how to get back into the swing of PhD life when you come back. Lastly, they gives their top tips for PhD students wanting to do a study visit.Stay tuned for the end of the episode...2024-04-1529 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 9 Entering Motherhood during the PhD - with Dr Sarah SampsonThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Sarah Sampson. Sarah is a Teaching Associate in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. In this episode, Sarah shares her experience of entering motherhood during the PhD and returning to academia after a career break, as well as discussing what universities and supervisors can do to support mothers in academia. Lastly, she gives her top tips for PhD students entering motherhood. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Are pets good for our well-being?2024-04-0829 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 8 AI in Academia - with Prof. Chris WatkinsThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Prof. Chris Watkins. Chris is a Professor of Machine Learning at the Department of Computer Science in Royal Holloway, University of London, and has had a long-standing interest in artificial intelligence (AI)I. In this episode, Chris shares his experience of AI, his thoughts on the ethical implications of using AI in research, and how our role as academics might change after the launch of Gen AI. Lastly, he gives his top tips for PhD students that want to use AI in their research.To find out more about...2024-04-0138 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 7 Is it worth doing a Master's before your PhD?This week, Gemma and Gaia discuss the pros and cons of doing a Master's before your PhD, compared to going straight from undergraduate to PhD. Gaia and Gemma share their experiences, and have a look at some of the advice from careers websites. Let us know, did you do a Master's before your PhD, what has been your experience?Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Does going out in the sunshine help your wellbeing?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website...2024-03-2521 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 6 Dealing with Rejection in Academia with Prof. Saloni KrishnanThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Prof. Saloni Krishnan. Saloni is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Royal Holloway, University of London, and has had amazing success within her academic career, however within this she has had her fair share of rejection. In this episode, Saloni shares her experiences of rejection in academia, how to pick yourself up after a set back, and explains how rejection can sometimes be a good thing! Lastly, she gives her top tips for PhD students who have experienced their first rejection.You can find Saloni on Twitter (X): @salonikrishnan...2024-03-1724 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 5 Presenting your Research like a Pro - with Dr Beatrice HayesThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Dr Beatrice Hayes. Beatrice is a Teaching Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London, and has lots of experience presenting her research confidently. In this episode, Beatrice shares her experiences of public speaking in academia, how presenting your research can help with your viva, and how to manage the scary post-talk questions. Lastly, she gives her top tips for PhD students that are nervous about presenting.You can find Beatrice on Twitter (X): @drbeatricehayesStay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain...2024-03-1132 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 4 Neurodiversity and the PhD - with Hannah JonesThis week, Gemma and Gaia are joined by Hannah Jones. Hannah is a fellow PhD student at Royal Holloway, University of London, and is researching reading motivation for individuals with developmental language disorders. In this episode, Hannah shares her experiences of academia as someone who is neurodivergent, and discusses what universities and supervisors can do to support neurodivergent individuals. Lastly, she gives her top tips for other neurodivergent PhD students on navigating the academic world. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Does caffeine reduce ADHD symptoms?2024-03-0431 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 3 Teaching alongside your PhDThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss how to survive teaching alongside your PhD. They share the challenges they faced when they started their teaching roles, developing your confidence as a new teacher, and how a teaching role can boost your involvement in the department. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Do fancy clothes make you more productive?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)Check out our social media accounts for bonus content...2024-02-2624 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 2 Toxic ProductivityThis week, Gemma and Gaia discuss toxic productivity in academia, and how this can impact PhD students. They discuss their own experiences with toxic productivity, how to tell the difference between just being productive and toxic productivity, as well as sharing some tips on how to set boundaries and look after your wellbeing as a PhD student.Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Can office plants improve your wellbeing?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https://theotherkindofdoctor.wordpress.com/episodes/)2024-02-1925 minThe Other Kind of DoctorEp 1 Managing ProcrastinationIn this episode, our hosts, Gemma and Gaia, reflect on their journey to becoming PhD students and their experiences so far in the complicated world of academia. This week, Gemma and Gaia discuss their experiences of procrastination as a PhD student. They delve into why we procrastinate and share some evidence-based top tips on how to overcome procrastination!Stay tuned for the end of the episode for this week's 'Brain Bites' - Are new years resolutions actually effective?For a full transcription of the episode, please visit our website (https...2024-02-1219 min
The Other Kind of DoctorTrailer - The Other Kind of Doctor PodcastWelcome to The Other Kind of Doctor podcast, where we celebrate the exciting (but crazy) journey of earning a Ph.D. and working within academia. Join our hosts, Gemma and Gaia, as they explore the diverse and unique stories of fellow PhD students, academics and other professionals, who have navigated the challenges and triumphs of academia. From groundbreaking research to personal narratives, each episode is a deep dive into the world of academia and beyond. Special thanks to our amazing podcast team and the Royal Holloway Doctoral School for their invaluable support on this project.Connect with...2024-02-0501 min