Shows
Un-ParadigmedEpisode 26: On Building a Body of WorkIn today’s episode, I explore the idea of shifting from viewing our jobs and careers as linear paths or defined identities to seeing them as part of a larger body of work that we have freedom to build and shape in whatever direction we want throughout our lives. I also get curious about how this body of work question might apply more broadly to who we are in the world, as we build our "body of being" for how we want to show up and experience our daily lives.Key Points:Ce...
2024-10-1721 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 25: How to Move Forward Through Overwhelm (Even When It's Good Stuff)Summary:In this episode, we dive into a mindset shift that can make a big difference when tackling tasks that feel overwhelming or hard to start. Even when we're excited and inspired by new projects and ambitions on the horizon, that excitement can often come with a sense of being overwhelmed. The focus today is on the simple yet powerful mantra: Let it be easy.Today, I share some personal insights, discussing how this simple phrase has helped manage feelings of resistance when starting new projects. For those who are high achievers or tend...
2024-10-0723 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 24 - Unexpected Micro-Moment of Joy: Metaphor from Outside the Shopping MallSummary: In this quick and fun episode, Shirley shares a surprising moment from her day that brought a little dose of joy. She dives into how this unexpected sight led to some deeper thoughts: What if we all embraced being different and brought a little joy into places we don’t quite fit? Why not be the unexpected in a world full of conformity?Key Points:Shirley’s unexpected source of joy.The metaphor: Why can’t we be the "tomato plants" in our lives, bringing something real and different where it’s not ex...
2024-09-3008 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 23: Back at It – A New Direction for the PodcastEpisode Summary: Hey everyone! After a year-long break, I’m back, and the podcast is taking a new direction. Originally, this show was all about helping scientists who were thinking about leaving academic research, but life changes, and so have my interests. Now, I want to talk about something a bit broader – how we often feel like we're not measuring up to expectations that were set by someone else: jobs, family, society – you name it.In this episode, I talk a little bit about the direction the podcast is heading in to address how to be mor...
2024-09-2707 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 22: The World We WantWelcome back to the podcast!In this season, we're digging into exploring how to figure out what we really want, which can be a challenge for so many of us. Today, I'm sharing my perspective on why what we want matters as well as my recent experience with an exercise that investigates what we want our ideal world to look like. And how defining this for ourselves as individuals can help center around our values and inform daily life and big picture decision-making. Mentioned in this episode:Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler
2023-10-1723 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 21: Returning to "What Do I Really Want?"Welcome back to the podcast for the start of Season Two!I’m excited to be back with you! Today, I’m returning to orient around the question we often have for ourselves of “What do I really want?”. You would think that this question of would be easy to answer, but I think it can be REALLY hard for so many of us, for so many reasons. We know we want something different, but we can’t quite identify what to move towards. Today, I'm sharing some thoughts around how micro-moments in our lives can help us explore...
2023-10-1016 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 20: What Can I Strip Away?Welcome back to the podcast!Today, I'm talking about how the question of "what can I take out of my life?" can help us focus on living our values, as well as how this relates to my personal approach to the summer. I also talk about my plans for the podcast for this summer, and the experiment of "just being". Thank you for listening!__Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll...
2023-06-2208 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 19: The Whirlwind of RealignmentWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I talk about my perspective on how overwhelm from the numerous components that require our attention when making big changes in our careers can contribute to that scary feeling that happens when we approach change. I also talk about a few approaches to address these various components and remember that we have the agency to decide how we want to feel as we move through change. Thank you for listening!__Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia...
2023-06-0627 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 18 - Reflections on Startup Pharma: My Favorite Job, the Question of Regret, and Uncovering Our Values From Past ExperiencesWelcome back to the podcast!In this slightly nostalgic episode, I look back on my favorite role in bench science at a start-up pharmaceutical company! (And some slightly comical and absurd moments in the role I held prior to the start-up company job...) This episode also addresses how remembering our past experiences can help us identify our values and what brings us fulfillment in our work. By reflecting on what we loved about past jobs or projects, we can intentionally bring more of those elements into our current work or new opportunities that align with what's important...
2023-05-2329 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 17 - Staying Curious: Dr. Kristine Averill's Path From Plant Scientist to Somatic Mindfulness CoachWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I'm delighted to chat with Dr. Kristine Averill, who shares her inspiring story of transitioning from a successful 15-year academic career in Plant and Crop Sciences to become a passionate Somatic Mindfulness Coach. Raised on an apple farm, Kristine developed a deep connection to nature, which led her to pursue a PhD in Ecology. Despite her achievements, she felt a longing for something more fulfilling. In stepping out of academia, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery through yoga, meditation, and coaching. Today, through somatic mindfulness and inquiry, Kristine...
2023-05-1627 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 16: A Nap is Not Enough: The Space In Between as an Essential Component of RestWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about REST. Giving ourselves permission to rest (which can be a challenge due to our conditioning, particularly coming from academia), dissociating rest from an expectation for it to feel good or to be fully replenishing in whatever timeframe we've allotted for it, and why allowing ourselves to stop thinking and problem-solving can be a necessary component of rest. We talk about how the space created by rest is so important to create meaning and ultimately enable us to show up as who we want to be in...
2023-05-0928 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 15: From Preclinical Research to Clinical Applications and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Sierra SimpsonWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I enjoyed chatting with Dr. Sierra Simpson, a PhD scientist with a background in investigating the connections between the microbiome and addiction. Sierra shares her story of how she moved away from preclinical bench research into more clinically-oriented roles as the Associate Director of Perioperative Informatics in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSD as well as founder of BrilliantBiome, a company centered around using information about your personal microbiome to inform health decisions. She shares some of her experiences around becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business (during her...
2023-05-0236 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 14: When the Impact of Our Work Gets in the Way of Making ChangeWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I explore how thinking about the impact of our work can help guide our decision-making as well as hold us back when we're feeling nudged towards making changes. We talk about possible ways to consider impact beyond measurable outcomes that contribute to solving the world's big problems. We also talk about how releasing attachment to impact outcomes might be really important when exploring, playing/learning, and following your curiosity towards something new, and how maybe it's okay to let the potential impact become more obvious down the road a...
2023-04-2524 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 13: Dream Constraints: Breaking Free to Become MoreWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we explore the relationship between allowing ourselves to dream (i.e., imagining our wild and outrageous ideal) and becoming even more of ourselves. We go through a few factors relevant to scientists and academics that may constrain our willingness to dream. And talk about one approach to expand our dreaming capacity and get closer to understanding what we really want. In my opinion, this understanding is an essential component in testing the hypothesis that we can achieve greater impact in the world by becoming more of ourselves. Th...
2023-04-1824 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 12: The Icky, Sticky, Slippery Steps of Starting Something NewWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I share a previously recorded episode that I almost deleted because I felt it wasn't perfect, until I remembered that sharing even the incomplete, imperfect ideas is part of how we co-create, relate, and learn from each other. We talk about how starting something new often involves moving through some icky, sticky steps and a reminder that it's totally normal to face this ick as part of the process of change toward something even better. Thank you for listening!Know of anyone navigating what t...
2023-04-1116 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 11: Navigating Outside Our Comfort Zones and Becoming More of OurselvesWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I talk about some thoughts-in-progress that have been on my mind recently around the connection between moving out of our comfort zones and the question of "how do I want this to feel" while moving toward the next big goal. We talk about how the steps along the way don't have to be extra hard or a huge challenge to overcome in order to "count" as progress and growth. I share my current perspective (which admittedly, might change in the future!), in which I'm finding it empowering to embrace...
2023-04-0417 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 10: From Academic Faculty to a Conservation Company and Creative Pursuits with Dr. Emily DangremondWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I'm delighted to chat with Dr. Emily Dangremond, a PhD ecologist with an interest in plants, climate change, and conservation. After earning her PhD from UC Berkeley, doing a postdoc at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and becoming an assistant professor at Roosevelt University, she recently left that role to work at a community-centered wildlife conservation company. Dr. Dangremond is also the host of "Kids Questions Answered", where she answers science questions posed by her son, and she has developed a scientific writing guide to help people overcome obstacles...
2023-03-2836 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 9: Testing the Imperfection HypothesisWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, I share a new project that I've been working on and what has been holding me back from letting people know about it. We talk about how this situation relates to testing the hypothesis that we can achieve impact in the world by showing up imperfectly, experimenting, and co-creating. It doesn't have to be a perfectly polished, perfectly packaged thing to make a difference and/or to learn something, and we don't always have to have everything figured out before we start. Know of anyone navigating what t...
2023-03-2118 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 8: Getting QuietWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about what it means to get quiet and how giving ourselves permission to expect nothing of ourselves frees up the space to allow insight and new ideas in. I share my mini-story of how I approached getting myself out of a little recent slump and how this approach can be useful in the context of bigger life or career decision-making.Thank you for listening! Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!Check out o...
2023-03-1420 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 7: What it Means When Our Goals ChangeWelcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we talk about: Why it can feel like failure when the original goal (or the path to achieving our goals) no longer feels right. How any goal actually has an infinite number of successful outcomes. Looking at how our stories have evolved vs. achieving a particular outcome. Changing goals as a reflection of sophistication in our thinking and our experiences. Thank you for listening! Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message! Check out other resources from Sequel to a...
2023-03-0716 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 6: Journey from PhD to a Successful Consulting Business with Bryan Quoc LeWelcome to the first guest episode of the Sequel to a PhD Podcast! Dr. Bryan Quoc Le is a food scientist, food industry consultant, and author of the book, 150 Food Science Questions Answered. He earned his PhD in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and now runs a food science consulting business where he acts as a scientific advisor and consulting food scientist for numerous food companies. In this conversation we talk about: Bryan's fascinating story of combining disparate interests to chart his own unique career trackHow an emerging interest in writing tur...
2023-02-2834 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 5: Already Living the DreamWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about: My personal story from the past two years of shifting my approach to work and what I want to do.How a recent moment of stress flipped around and became a symbol of living out my values and dreams from several years ago.Recognizing the small steps that have moved me further into my dream life.The energy and possibility that comes from approaching work/life from a mindset of "how can I make this even better?"This episode goes further than usual into my l...
2023-02-2123 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 4: A Framework to Approach Career Shifts When You're Not Sure What You Want to Do NextWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about: Why looking at job postings is not the right place to start when thinking about career change choicesA three-part framework for exploring what's next based on who you are nowApproaching career shifts based on personal values and what you want vs. qualifications and expectationsUsing "what if's" to explore the impact you would like to achieve with your workContextualizing the action steps of career change Permission to step outside of the conditioning from the past to follow what feels meaningful and fulfilling nowThank you fo...
2023-02-1422 minUn-ParadigmedBonus Episode: Why Less Than 100% is More Than OkayWelcome back to the podcast!In this bonus episode, we talk about: Reframing what's actually happening when you show up with less than 100% effort, and why these phases are critical to get to where you're headingThank you for listening! Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.comRate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text Support the sh...
2023-02-0910 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 3: My Favorite Super Simple Tool to Actually Do That Overwhelming ThingWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about: A super simple technique for making progress on that big, overwhelming, or intimidating thing you really want to doReal-life examples of how I use this tool in my own life on a daily basisAn example of how this tool might be used in the setting of applying for that new job (that you may or may not be convinced you're qualified for yet)Why the feelings that come with accomplishing super small, easy steps is important in the context of the bigger picture question of "h...
2023-02-0717 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 2: How Shifting Our Lens on Uncertainty and Experiments Can Help Us Move Forward When We're StuckWelcome back to the podcast!In this episode, we talk about: Why uncertainty can keep us stuck and stop us from moving forward, even towards something we really wantHow to shift that "stuck-ness" by changing our lens on what uncertainty representsHow applying an experiment framework to our career decisions, both past and current, can help contextualize our experiences, inform what we want now, and provide permission to try something newAdapting a potential scientist "superpower" of intimate familiarity with the experimental process and applying it to our careers (vs. viewing results as a measure of our personal s...
2023-01-3118 minUn-ParadigmedEpisode 1: Why Permission to Be Ourselves Can be a Struggle and a Starting PointWelcome to the podcast! In this first episode, we talk about: This podcast as an experiment in allowing imperfection and expressionExperiences and conditioning that can make it hard for us, as scientists or academics, to remember that it's okay to want something differentThe relationship between fulfillment, flow, happiness (i.e., being more of ourselves) and the impact of our workHow to approach the potential overwhelm associated with giving ourselves permission to want something differentViewing permission to step outside of our conditioning and external expectations as a starting point for navigating changeWant to connect directly wi...
2023-01-2420 min
Un-ParadigmedIntroducing: The Sequel to a PhD Podcast!Coming soon: The Sequel to a PhD Podcast! Equipping PhDs to make inspired career and life movesAs PhDs, we often define our career, identity, ambitions based on the story we wrote for ourselves before starting our PhD. But what happens when we discover along the way that that story we created for ourselves back then no longer feels right? How do we walk away from something we’re good at, that defines us, that makes us feel like we’re contributing something important to the world, even if it no longer fulfills us?
2022-11-0704 min