Learning on the Job

Today, we delve into the often discussed but less frequently practiced theme of self-care. Nic and James share personal anecdotes and tips on incorporating culinary creativity into your self-care routine. Plus, we explore the importance of financial literacy in academia, especially for those of us who don't come from wealth, offering some insightful tips on managing finances to support your well-being. Pro tip: Moving your body is (almost always) free! And don’t miss out on our reading recommendations to nourish your mind, soul, and body.

We still want to hear from you! Let us know what topics or themes you’d like to hear more about by sending your questions to ⁠[email protected]

Alrighty, here goes! We're back and trying our hand at giving ADVICE!

Got a question about higher ed, lower learning, making it, faking it, or anything in between? We're your queers!

We're kicking things off with a bit of advice to our younger selves. But we want to hear from you!

We're 50 lessons deep, y'all! The time has come for us to lip sync for our.....wait, wrong show! Although it goes without question about who would slay who in a lip sync battle, Nic and James have decided that the time has indeed come for reflection. Reflection on this podcast, its content, and where we imagine it going. To be crystal clear, we aren't going anywhere but we are moving in another direction.

Think "Dear Abby" meets the real housequeers of the university meets podcasting. Or, something along those lines. We want to hear from you, listeners, about the questions, comments, and observations you have being in higher education and provide a space for us to talk frankly and collectively. Reach us at [email protected] and let's chat!

Because we can't just have nice things, this week yet again James and Nic are tasked with sifting through the wreckage that is higher education in the age of anti-intellectualism. This week the duo gets to spend a sweet moment basking in the glow of a successful educator's strike (Shoutout CSU!) before being immediately reminded of the how hard it is out here in these streets. We pour one out for the Florida governor/baby man who just really wants y'all to chill with all these book bans and try to read the tea leave or what exactly the state of Oklahoma thinks diversity is. It's...not great. But we've got each other, great book recs, and a country Beyonce album to look forward to if that's your thing. Silver lining?

Further Reading:

California State Union Approves Tentative Deal, Despite Dissent (Inside Higher Ed)

DeSantis denies Florida book ban claims, backs limiting 'bad-faith' objections (ABC 6 South Florida)

The Rise and Fall of DEI at the University of Oklahoma (Chronicle of Higher Education)

The Met Aims to Get Harlem Right, the Second Time Around (New York Times)

What We're Reading:

Zora Neale Hurston, I Love Myself When I'm Laughing, and then Again When I'm Looking Mean and Impressive

The queers are back, baby! Nic and James shake the cobwebs off the microphones and jump back into The Academic Discourse. Speaking of, we see you Cal State. They share what’s been going on in their lives and discuss where they hope to go. It’s been too long and we’ve missed you. Join us on this journey!

Further reading: 

We're taking a long break. This isn't a goodbye. Far from it. We are re-grouping, re-assessing, and resting. Thank you to all those dear listeners out there! We'll be back in the near future. Remember: A "no" to others is also a "yes" to you. 

Because living in this moment can be unendingly exhausting, this week we're trying something different: a little much needed rest and commiseration. Where in the place of segments, we do a different kind of learning and leaning and loving. And you know what, it feels so good.

What We're Reading:

~100 emails a day (and dammit we deserve credit for that too!)

The recent(ish) queer PhDs of color are back to discuss all the moving parts of the world around them. So many things to keep track of these days! The world(s) of higher education remains held together by the thinnest and most fragile string possible. We're here, though. And we're glad you're here, too.

Further Reading:

What We're Reading:

Power-hungry, cartoonishly ambitious, proudly ignorant politicians are. This week, we kick off the new year with a veritable onslaught of genuinely disturbing news. Seriously, what is going on in Florida? How concerned should we all be? This seems...bad.

But we temper that potential alarmism with a real supernova of a hot take: everyone is dramatically overreacting to chatbots and it is hilarious, revealing, and a bit sad all at once. That seems right somehow. Books you can't read now but should absolutely put on your radar, thoughts about the perils of two-factor authentication and some much needed friendship and solidarity. This one has "it all", as the kids say.

Further Reading:

"DeSantis's Higher-Ed Push Just Got Bigger. Fresh Resistance is Starting to Bubble Up.", Chronicle of Higher Education

"The College Board Strips Down Its AP Curriculum for African American Studies", NY Times

"The DeSantis Takeover Begins", Inside Higher Ed

"Google is Asking Potential Employees to Test Potential ChatGPT Competitors, including a Chatbot called Apprentice Bard", CNBC

"These Jobs are Most Likely to Be Replaced by Chatbots like ChatGPT", CBS News

"Alarmed by A.I. Chatbots, Universities Start Revamping How They Teach", NY Times

What We're Reading:

A Pill for Promiscuity: Gay Sex in an Age of Pharmaceuticals, Andrew Spieldenner and Jeffrey Escoffier (editors)

Queer Then and Now: The David R. Kessler Lectures 2002 - 2020

We're back for one final episode before the holiday break! US higher ed doesn't disappoint when it comes to mess, small joys, and everything in between. Listen in as Nic and James reflect on 2022 and their speculate about the future. Enjoy and catch you in the new year!

Further Reading:

What We're Reading: