Dr Fi Roxburgh is a lecturer in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. In this episode, Fi delivers honest reflections on their career and life in academia from the get-go. Having worked across politics, philosophy and mental health support (and they’re just the areas we touched on!) Fi has a wealth of ideas about addressing the topic of failure within the research and HE environment. In particular, they talk about their experimentation with radically redesigning the assessment of a module they teach to address the current ‘fear of failure’ and stress - or lack of enjoyment with the learning/research process – they were seeing in their students. Fi is evidence that we, as individuals, can make a real difference to our HE culture within the systems that already exist…whether that’s a radical module redesign, or asking someone if they want a cup of tea. Other topics we touch on include larger issues of equality within society, gender, caring roles and the burden of care, and feminism and failure. There’s so much food for thought here – enjoy!

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_8_fi_roxburgh/

Dr Felix Naughton is a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of East Anglia.  In this relatively short but super refreshing episode, Felix shares some great, practical tips for surviving ‘failures’ in academia. Failure there having definite air quotes around it...because – as we discuss in this episode – when things don’t go to plan that doesn’t need to be thought of as a complete failure!

Felix shares how he integrates the idea of ‘Plan B’ and the use of broad, overarching goals into his working life which allows him to keep moving forward. The thing I took from Felix’s conversation was the concept of modulating the impact of setbacks by constantly “hoping for the best, preparing for the worst” (his words). That is, by continually moving forward, even incrementally, he starts the next iteration of work from a positive place, not from having to drag himself up from a place of rejection. Anyway, Felix explains this far more eloquently than I can…so over to him!

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/10/04/episode_7_felix_naughton/

Andrea James is a PhD student at the University of East Anglia looking at online-based gender violence in education. Andrea is working on her self-funded PhD part-time whilst also working several other part-time roles. In this chat we touch on lots of topics, but in particular we focus on how we (as a society) often link our self-worth to external factors such as how much financial renumeration we receive for our work, or measurements and metrics issued by our workplace. Andrea shares her belief and some strategies for how she ‘recalibrates’ her own sense of worth within this competitive environment. We also touch on the benefits – and pitfalls – of caring really, really deeply about your work, something she approaches with honesty and humour. Moving through politics to hot baths, class issues, going all in, the importance of language and humour – this episode is full of wisdom and honesty, I hope you enjoy it!

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_6_andrea_james/

Chris Bishop is a Learning Enhancement Tutor at the University of East Anglia. Chris and I discuss so many different topics today, everything from finding a place (even if it isn’t a traditional one!) that fits for you within Higher Education, to links between failure and running, and failure and learning a language! Chris repeatedly touches on the idea of focusing on the process not the finished project, and acknowledging the difficulties you may face during this process. Chris has such a wealth of experience in teaching, learning, researching and writing. In particular, those of you writing a thesis may find some words of comfort and wisdom here...although really I think this conversation will appeal to so many people – enjoy!

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_5_chris_bishop/

Professor Anne Osbourn is a group leader at the John Innes Centre in Norwich. Anne’s research group investigates plant natural product biosynthesis. She’s also an honorary professor at the University of East Anglia, a Fellow of the Royal Society, was awarded an OBE for services to plant science and is an award-winning published poet. Today, Anne shares with us her reflections on a lifetime of scientific research, both the highs and the lows, and if there’s one thing I took from this interview it’s her incredible sense of self and her courage to follow the path she thought was right.

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_4_anne_osbourn/

Rebecca Shaw is a PhD student at the University of East Anglia and the Earlham Institute, Norwich. Rebecca is working on conservation genomics of the European Polecat and she’s also an active STEM ambassador and science communicator, currently working on the Norwich Pint of Science events, amongst other things.  Rebecca started her PhD in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic but despite this rocky start her discussion today was nothing but positive. Rebecca’s clearly passionate about the role of good communication and building community – whether in person or online. I found this discussion really uplifting, I hope you do too!

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_3_rebecca_shaw/

Dr Katherine Deane is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia. As well as her academic role, Katherine is UEA’s Access Ambassador and champions for a more inclusive, thoughtful and kinder environment – both physical and social – both in research and beyond.

Katherine openly discusses how developing a disability at the start of her career impacted her career choices and opportunities, and how she has used it as a force for good, creating for herself a research career that is both personally fulfilling but also directly impactful to society. We discuss the danger of seeing “being healthy” as normal – we’re all constantly on a spectrum of physical and mental healthiness and this isn’t a failure to be fixed, the importance of learning to say no and of understanding your own values, and how Katherine built a varied, ‘portfolio’ career rather than the – somewhat traditional – academic model of specialization. Katherine is honest throughout the conversation, for example she shared the times decisions were made with the mortgage in mind and times when her research looks quick, but the process ‘behind the scenes’ was slow.

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/episode_2_katherine_deane/

Research is both a cumulative and iterative process, as such failure is an integral part of it. But are we creating the right research/HE environment to allow people to embrace failure? And, how can we improve resiliance in the face of failed ideas and experiments? This episode outlines why I started this project and what I hoped to achieve by it.

More here: https://emmaelvidge.wordpress.com/2021/10/26/episode_1_introduction/