Jess explores

We have all been in a situation where we knew we had to make a good first impression or we met someone who did not make a good first impression. It's not rare that the first impression may not be the best but you end up being great colleagues or friends. But how do you prepare to meet someone new and how can you make sure that you leave a good first impression? I don't have any one-size-fits-all solution but maybe a few tips that may help!

Have you ever wondered why there were so many academic conferences and who attends all of these? And also - why do academics go to all of these?

In this week's episode we explore academic conferences, why they are important, and who should attend them, and when to maybe not to attend...

When I was younger, I loved the idea of going to the circus. In fact, I don't actually think I went all that often, but it was one of these magical experiences in my mind. It was never about the animals, but what I absolutely loved were the people and their ability to do things that just seemed so outlandish to me. Especially aerial acrobatics - hanging on silk ropes, catching themselves, climbing up again, flying through the arena - it always seemed so magical. So, naturally, I thought, why not give it a go myself? Well... Find out how this went on this week's episode!

These days it sometimes seems like everyone is a specialist - but what about all of us (including me) who are generalists who like to know a little bit about everything? There is a place for all of us in this world!

In this week's episode, I explore what a generalist is and how they operate and why you should maybe also consider a generalist approach to whatever you do. I also talk about specialists and why we need their skills to even consider being a generalist!

I absolutely love any water-based activities, no matter how terrifying they seem to some and believe me, this week's episode has some terrifying moments in it.

I recently joined the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) on one of their sailing trips on the Celtic Mist. This was my second time around and it was very different from two years ago. So tune in, know that no humans or animals were harmed during the course of this experience, and enjoy!

Have you ever received feedback and thought to yourself - what on earth was that? Well, I've been at the receiving end of that more times than I care to remember and there was a time in my life where I would have taken any feedback as a critique on my personal being. And of course, when you feel like someone is attacking you, you will never be able to actually listen to what they are saying (if in fact what they are saying has any merit). But, it turns out, that when you give constructive feedback that it's never that case but rather that whoever is giving feedback - in many cases (not all) - has your best interest at heart and really tries to help and wants to be constructive. It's a power skill to give and receive feedback and one that requires lots of training and lots of understanding on how to communicate effectively.

On this week's episode, I get deeply personal on constructive feedback and why it can really make a difference in your life.

The fear of missing out (FOMO) is that feeling you get when you at one place but wish you were some place else and while you are in that place, you are unable to enjoy yourself or really take in what is happening. While most of us think of this in the context of being invited to two parties at the same time, it's something we actually experience every day in our personal and professional lives. For instance, when you signed up for a webinar but are not paying attention to the webinar because you respond to emails because 'something important may be happening', you are experiencing FOMO on your emails.

So, in this week's episode I want to draw attention to that and how to raise your own awareness when you're experiencing FOMO.

When I was 14, I made the decision to become a fashion designer/seamstress, thinking that I found my calling and that one day I would be the next Vivian Westwood. Spoiler alert: that didn't quite happen (yet?!). I worked in a theatre for about 4 weeks, clocked 38.5 hours per week and made a whopping 168 euros (not per week - that was one month's salary!).

But I took a few moments in this week's episode and reflected on what I learnt in that job and how important it was to understand that what we learn in school isn't always useful in industry...

I could talk for hours about all the funny episodes and experiences I had in those four formative weeks, but mostly I just wanted to take you on a short excursion on where I started my 'career' and while you may not end up becoming what you thought you'd be at 14, the lessons are still valuable!

As we are all taking a few much-needed days off, it is important to reflect on how you take leave! You may have heard the buzzword "ecotourism" thrown around quite a bit, but what does that actually mean and how far do you have to travel to really be an ecotourist? Turns out, not that far at all! Join me in this week's episode where I talk about ecotourism, what that means and how you can make sure that you travel environmentally-friendly and eco-conscious. 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where a tiny voice in your head told you that you don't have the skills, experience, or knowledge to participate in a conversation? Did it ever feel like anyone else around you knew much more and was much better equipped to respond to questions and make comments than you? Has this ever held you back in speaking your mind, applying for a job, or just feeling good about yourself? You may have a case of imposter syndrome and let me tell you, we've all been there and we all have that voice in our heads! But fear not, there is ways to overcome it and there are ways to make sure that you do get that job or that promotion that you deserve!

So, on this week's episode, we'll be talking about the imposter syndrome!

If you or someone you know suffers mental health issues related to the imposter syndrome or any other kind of mental health issues, please know that you are not alone and please seek help!