PhD Lounge

Students and Graduates!

A PhD doesn’t make you smarter.” Bold claim—or honest truth? 

The idea that a PhD proves superior intelligence and show how real expertise comes from focus, method, and clear communication. In this solo session, rarity fuels the myth, where limits sit, and how to talk about research without distance or jargon. Here's the breakdown:
Why the “PhDs are smarter” myth sticks
What narrow expertise actually looks like
Methods, questions, and building arguments
The role of patience, graft, and curiosity
How jargon creates distance in outreach
Using plain language to invite dialogue
Setting boundaries on expertise with honesty
Encouraging others to pursue the path by example

Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

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A doctorate can feel like juggling knives in a windstorm—until you simplify your approach. We break down a practical rule of three that keeps your research clear, effective, and memorable: strategy, management, and communication. Rather than drowning in to‑dos, you’ll learn how to design a flexible plan, turn that plan into steady weekly progress, and share your work so real people understand why it matters.
We start with strategy as the anchor for your PhD. You’ll hear how to focus your question, align aims with your supervisor’s interests, and set milestones that adapt to new data and unexpected detours. Then we move to management, where we prioritise high‑impact tasks, schedule deep work when energy is highest, and build simple systems—weekly sprints, daily next steps, and realistic buffers around supervision meetings—that reduce stress and create momentum. Finally, we explore communication beyond conferences: using plain language, relatable examples, and honest stories about setbacks to connect with undergraduates, colleagues outside your field, and the wider public.
Across the conversation, we highlight small habits with outsized returns: treating research as a pipeline, tracking lead indicators you control, and pressure‑testing ideas by explaining them over coffee. You’ll leave with a lean toolkit for navigating uncertainty, focusing on what matters, and turning complex ideas into messages that stick. If you’re a current PhD, a prospective applicant, or a supervisor looking to guide your students, this is a clear, human framework you can use right away.
Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who needs a simpler way to steer their PhD.

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Students and Graduates!

Ewelina Kurtys is a PhD in neuroscience, business developer and technology advisor at FinalSpark. With more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, Ewelina's work at FinalSpark is about market-planning, strategy and investment in working computers through human living neurons. 

Personal website: ewelinakurtys.com
Ewelina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys/

FinalSpark: https://finalspark.com/

Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

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Students and Graduates!

Nikita is a PhD candidate in Biology at Swansea University who submitted his PhD on the behaviour and ecology of predator interactions, and working at two field sites in sub-Saharan Africa to quantify the famous fight between mongooses and snakes. He also has his YouTube channel, Diary of the Adventurer and the podcast Baffling Biology.

Nikita explores how mongooses and snakes flip the food chain, why threat discrimination is context-driven, and what long-term field data reveal about venom resistance and group defence. Along the way, Nikita shares his thoughts on funding, field logistics, science communication, and making space for creative projects during a PhD.
• mutual predation between mongooses and snakes in Africa
• threat discrimination shaped by movement, learning and context
• venom resistance in mongooses and pup vulnerability
• group mobbing against pythons versus solo risk
• field sites, habituation and camera-trap ecosystems
• self-funding, teaching work and practical trade-offs
• Diary of the Adventurer and Baffling Biology platforms
• science without hype and avoiding dramatization
• choosing supervisors, writing early and skill-building

Follow his YouTube channel Diary of the Adventurer: http://www.youtube.com/@diaryoftheadventurer

Nikita's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-bedov-2a2019174/

Nikita's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikitaecras/

Baffling Biology: https://bafflingbiologypodcast.weebly.com/

Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

In this solo session, I share a candid reflection on passing the viva, then map the four pillars of a modern PhD: funding, mental health, career strategy, and networking.

Practical stories, honest stats, and a nudge to build options beyond the thesis Viva highlights and next steps. Funding sources, tradeoffs, and timing. Mental health risks, supports, and pacing. Academic vs industry routes and optionality. Entrepreneurial mindset for uncertain markets. Networking as social capital, not transactions. Online presence for visibility and community. Choosing the PhD with eyes open.

Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!

Hazell, C. M., Chapman, L., Valeix, S. F., Roberts, P., Niven, J. E., & Berry, C. (2020). Understanding the mental health of doctoral researchers: a mixed methods systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. Systematic Reviews, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01443-1

Horwitz, I. M. (2025). The Entrepreneurial Scholar: A New Mindset for Success in Academia and Beyond. Princeton University Press.

Last, A. (2025). The ‘creative thesis’ in the academic ‘anxiety machine.’ Area. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.70007

Pham, T. (2025). What really contributes to employability of PhD graduates in uncertain labour markets? Globalisation Societies and Education, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2023.2192908

Satinsky, E. N., Kimura, T., Kiang, M. V., Abebe, R., Cunningham, S., Lee, H., Lin, X., Liu, C. H., Rudan, I., Sen, S., Tomlinson, M., Yaver, M., & Tsai, A. C. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Ph.D. students. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93687-7

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Daria Levina, PhD, shares her journey from winning law competitions in Russia to completing two PhDs, securing a Harvard Law degree through crowdfunding, and building a business helping others access competitive education funding.
• From law Olympiads to academia: How winning national competitions opened doors to university without entrance exams
• Crowdfunding $92,000 for Harvard by building relationships and sharing her mission for accessible education
• Insights from serving on PhD admissions committees: What makes applications stand out
• The importance of connecting research to real-world problems rather than just citing literature
• Productivity techniques: Using the "agile method" to break down PhD projects into manageable chunks
• Digital note-taking with Zettelkasten methodology using Obsidian to create interconnected research notes
• Building support networks as essential for navigating the solitary PhD journey
• Challenging the pressure for academics to maintain online presence and personal branding
• Transitioning academic expertise into a consultancy helping others secure competitive funding
• Pursuing stand-up comedy as a creative outlet alongside academic work
Follow Daria's work at harvardstateofmind.com or connect with her on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

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The transition from academia to industry remains one of the most challenging journeys for PhDs, yet it's a path that half of all doctoral graduates will take. Elena Hoffer, PhD and founder of https://www.alma.me/ shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and explains how she helps PhDs and PostDocs transitioning to industry careers after reaching over 100,000 LinkedIn followers.
• PhDs often struggle to translate their academic skills into language industry employers understand
• Networking is about relationship building over time, not transactional requests to strangers
• True value of a PhD lies in who you become during the process, not just the thesis produced
• Industry employers value PhDs for their problem-solving abilities, resilience, and "get things done" mentality
• Most successful job searches focus on 1-2 targeted positions rather than applying broadly
• Taking courses in areas like project management signals clear career direction to potential employers
• Time management and prioritization are essential for balancing entrepreneurship with content creation
• The PhD degree remains valuable but could evolve to better prepare graduates for diverse career paths
Visit https://www.alma.me/ to learn more about helping PhDs transition to industry, and follow Elena on LinkedIn or listen to her podcast "Post PhD Directions" for more insights on leveraging your doctoral experience in the professional world. PostPhDDirections podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2trW8zOrwLgh9HKWNqHLpp?si=41cec8b3020d4c3a

Students and Graduates!

Ilana Horwitz, PhD, is an assistant lecturer of Jewish Studies and Sociology at Tulane University, New Orleans. Ilana presents her released book The Entrepreneurial Scholar. A New Mindset for Success in Academia and Beyond, along other future projects.

Buy Ilana's The Entrepreneurial Scholar on Princeton Univ Press and get 20% OFF by typing IMH20: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691240893/the-entrepreneurial-scholar

Ilana's website: https://www.ilanahorwitz.com/

Ilana's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-horwitz-447b092/

Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!

Link to the call for paper conference at Swansea University: https://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa?A2=CLASSICISTS;d26a3f17.2501

Submit your abstracts to either one of these emails: [email protected] & [email protected]

Students and Graduates!

The first late-night talk with three PhDs of 2025 is here!

Alec Dawson is a PhD Candidate at Swansea University, whose thesis is on Late Antique Rule in Hispania and the Role of the Regnum Suevorum. Since then, Alec has presented papers at international conferences in Spain and the UK, including the renowned Celtic Conference in Classics. Alongside university teaching responsibilities, Alec also has published book reviews for the journal Plekos and jointly chair a departmental seminar series.

Bella Winton, a funded PhD candidate at Swansea University, specialises in Greek Hagiography from Christian Late Antiquity, focusing on their value as sophisticated literary narratives.

Ella Harford is a PhD student at Swansea University. Her thesis focuses on representations of sex and adultery amongst women in 18th century print culture .

Check out their social media platforms to network with them.

Alec: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-dawson-104b56287/

Bella: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-winton-487859174/

Ella: @emharford

Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!

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What if the tools you rely on to boost your productivity are actually holding you back? Are they worth of investment? Join me on the PhD Lounge as we kick off 2025 with a heartfelt reflection on both personal achievements and academic milestones from the past year. PhD students often turn to productivity tools and hacks with the hope of enhancing their research efficiency; however, this episode uncovers the hidden pitfalls associated with these tools. The conversation encourages listeners to critically assess the impact of these tools on their personal workflow and mental well-being.  
 
• Questioning the overwhelming influence of productivity tools  
• Sharing personal year reflections and growth experiences  
• Discussing the financial implications of productivity tools  
• Highlighting the importance of finding suitable tools for individual styles  
• Critiquing the linearity assumption in a PhD journey  
• Exploring the Pomodoro Technique and its varying effectiveness  
• Encouraging a balanced approach to productivity  
• Advising against blindly following productivity trends  
 
Tune in for thought-provoking insights and strategies that promise to transform your PhD experience. If you're a PhD candidate or graduate and want to share your research and even ask a question or leave a thought about this topic, you can send me an email at [email protected] or on my social media, as mentioned above. Thank you all for tuning in. It has been a pleasure.
Listen to these three episodes I heard on Mics to Millions Podcast hosted by Sam Guia: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-seo-valuable-tips-to-improve-your-podcasts/id1725636457?i=1000674116133
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/14-money-making-strategies-used-by-top-podcasters-ep-36/id1725636457?i=1000668280007
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/15-years-of-online-audience-building-insights-in/id1725636457?i=1000669906524