In this episode, we talk with Dr. Simone Kolysh about the experience of navigating the academic system while being a part of the LGBTQ community. Dr. Kolysh draws from their research and their own personal experiences, as they share their story with us. As Nilufer and Dr. Kolysh talk, their conversation ranges from the reasons why LGBTQ students drop out from their PhD programs to the ways that academia forces many to hide their true selves if they want to succeed. The stories they share are heartbreaking, but also importantly serve as a call to action. As Dr. Kolysh reminds us, there is a lot we can do to make a change because all of this is made up, and it is made up of us and we can un-make it.