Mentoring Matters

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we dig into how to give students feedback and why it's so hard! We start with the big reason it stings: students tend to tie their self-worth to the quality of their work, so a draft full of comments can feel like a verdict on them as a person. We talk about how to separate the work from the writer so feedback becomes a tool for growth.

We also walk through our START framework for feedback that lands: Specific, Timely, Actionable, Respectful, and Targeted. Along the way we get into delivery, from quick comments to sitting down face to face, and why a meeting often saves time by letting students process feedback and ask questions before they spiral.

A few favorite tactics come up too. Steph shares feed forward, where you talk through a student's outline and key points before they write to cut down on painful revisions later. We cover why you should never let hard feedback fester, the value of campus writing centers, and the small but mighty habit of having students respond to your comments instead of just accepting all the track changes.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we get personal. We recorded this one back in January 2025 and are just now sharing it, but the topic is too important to sit on. Mary and Steph both stepped away from their labs for a semester, one planned and one not, and we're talking about what that looked like, what we wish we'd done differently, and what we'd tell other mentors to have in place before they need it.

We talk about the difference between preparing for a sabbatical you see coming and scrambling when a health challenge or life event pulls you away without warning. From making sure your students know who to go to, to keeping projects on track when you're not in the building, we cover the practical stuff that nobody really walks you through before it happens.

Whether you're planning a leave or just want to be ready in case life has other plans, this conversation is one worth having now rather than later. Because every mentor is going to be unavailable at some point.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters, dig into the (unfortunately) age-old question: am I actually being productive, or just busy? Inspired by Cal Newport's Slow Productivity, we explore what it looks like to focus on fewer, higher-impact commitments, and why that matters not just for your own work, but for the quality of mentoring you can offer your students.

We talk through how to evaluate new opportunities before you say yes, why the real time cost of a commitment is almost always more than you think, and how to stop wearing "busy" as a badge of honor. Spoiler: sometimes the most productive thing you can do is say no.

Whether you're a new faculty member figuring out what to take on or a seasoned mentor feeling stretched thin, this one's for you. Our homework: try a time audit this week and notice what energizes you versus what drains you.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we tackle a question that's been on a lot of mentors' minds: how do we guide our graduate students in using AI without letting it replace the critical thinking skills we're trying to build? Mary gets honest about her hesitation to even bring up AI with her students, and Steph shares how she's been integrating tools like Claude and Notebook LM into her mentoring and teaching.

Together, we explore the idea of training students to be AI-assisted scientists rather than AI-dependent ones, and what it looks like to shift from content creator to creative director in your own work. We dig into the real risk of skill atrophy when students hand off tasks they haven't yet mastered, and we land on a practical gut check: if you wouldn't be comfortable telling your advisor exactly how you used AI, it's time to rethink your approach.

Whether you're already using AI in your mentoring or still figuring out where to start, this conversation will give you a framework for setting expectations, encouraging transparency, and helping your students build the AI literacy they'll need in their careers. Spoiler: it starts with just having the conversation.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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In this solo episode of Mentoring Matters, Steph shares how she approaches the start of a new semester with plans that actually survive reality. Instead of chasing perfection, she focuses on building sustainable systems: protecting time for deep thinking work, stress-testing your calendar, and breaking big goals into small, repeatable processes.

She also tackles common faculty pain points, from mentoring high-achieving grad students who struggle with perfectionism to setting realistic thesis and dissertation timelines before panic season hits. Along the way, she shares practical tools she uses to keep projects moving when the semester gets chaotic, including a Kanban approach and structured accountability.

Finally, she talks attention and technology: reducing social media and phone distraction, and helping students become AI-capable without cognitively offloading their education. The goal isn’t flawless performance — it’s growth, resilience, and progress you can sustain.

If you are interested in having Steph or Mary do a workshop on graduate mentoring at your institution please reach out to Steph at [email protected]

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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Steph is back for another solo episode, continuing The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map series. This time she digs into why culture isn’t fluff—it’s strategy.

You’ll hear how an abundance mindset shapes behavior, why fostering mutual support increases grit, and how team-building (yes, even a group hike) creates shared identity that lasts through the hard stuff. From ice cream to paper bags, Steph shares real examples from her lab and how you can build a culture that runs itself, even when you're out of town.

Whether you’re building a new group or strengthening a veteran team, this episode offers practical ways to create a culture that sticks.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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Steph is back for another solo episode, drawing from The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map. This time focusing on helping grad students believe they can get better—and making sure they know what "better" even looks like.

We talk growth mindset, how to normalize mistakes as part of the process, and why “kind is clear” isn’t just a Brene Brown soundbite—it’s a foundational mentoring principle. If your students are floundering, unclear expectations might be the root. Let’s fix that.

Whether you're onboarding someone new or trying to re-align mid-program, this episode gives you practical language and mindset shifts you can use right away.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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Join Dr. Steph Hansen for a solo mini-series of Mentoring Matters, diving deep into the concepts from our new book, The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map. This episode tackles the #1 challenge for faculty mentors: finding the time to do it well.

Steph shares actionable strategies including Stephen Covey's "Big Rocks First," the Eisenhower Matrix, and effective delegation to help you reclaim your calendar. Discover why intentional mentoring isn't a luxury, but a critical investment that simplifies your entire academic program. And yes, she'll  share her strong opinions on useful figures in non-fiction books—because if a figure isn't truly helpful, why is it there?

Whether you're new to mentoring or a seasoned pro, this episode offers practical tips to build a thriving graduate group.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we explore the transformative potential of generative AI tools like ChatGPT in the context of graduate student mentoring. As these cutting-edge technologies continue to advance, they offer unique opportunities to enhance the mentoring experience and support the growth and development of graduate students.

We delve into the various ways in which ChatGPT and similar tools can be leveraged to provide personalized guidance, facilitate knowledge sharing, and foster meaningful interactions between mentors and mentees. From generating ideas for research projects to offering constructive feedback on written work, these AI-powered assistants have the potential to streamline and enrich the mentoring process.

However, we also address the challenges and ethical considerations surrounding the use of generative AI in mentoring, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human connection and judgment. Join us as we navigate this exciting frontier and discuss how to effectively integrate these tools while preserving the essence of authentic mentorship.

Whether you're a mentor, mentee, or simply interested in the future of graduate education, this episode offers valuable insights into the role of generative AI in shaping the mentoring landscape.

PS- Steph did convince Mary to get on the AI bandwagon, and she's now a happy user of ChatGPT. Steph's pro tip: Just talk to it like a colleague and you'll be surprised how easily the conversation flows.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail

In this (long awaited) episode of Mentoring Matters we discuss how to get our students started off strong at the beginning of the semester. Things we discussed include:

• How much Steph loves to plan
• Setting goals and milestones for your students AND helping them understand your purpose behind the plan

Enjoy!

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook! 

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!