The PhD Life Raft Podcast

This episode isn't the usual interview but a little gift of a few minutes to pause and reflect on your PhD journey.

In this episode, I invite you to:

• Let go of the kind of PhD reflection that focuses on lack, productivity metrics, and/or self-criticism

• Explore reflection as a foundational practice for the development of the PhD

I share three questions, designed to support you wherever you are in your research

• What did this year ask of you?

• Where did your curiosity show up?

• What kind of relationship do you want with your research in the coming months?

This episode may be particularly useful if you're feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, stuck or even bored with your PhD!

If you'd like to take this further you're very welcome to join the 2026 PhD Life Raft Plan-a-thon, running 5th–9th January.

This five-day programme offers:

• Daily live sessions (8–9am GMT) with replays

• Guided meditations

• Reflective prompts and a workbook

• Community hub

It's designed to help you reflect, reset, and plan in a calm, supportive, and neuroinclusive way.

You can find full details and registration here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/plan-a-thon

Wishing you the very best of the season! See you in 2026!

Emma x

Natasha Joyce is a historian, researcher, and PhD candidate at La Trobe University in Bendigo. Her research focuses on accidental childhood fatalities during Victoria's gold rush era. Known as the 'Victorian Historian', she enjoys sharing her expertise with the public through storytelling and expert commentary. Natasha has appeared on national television shows, such as Who Do You Think You Are. With 25 years of experience in labour relations and capacity building, she integrates her historical knowledge with a dedication to public advocacy and volunteers for several local community groups.

In this episode we reflect on the question that many people struggle with - "when is it the right time to start a PhD?"

Tash reflects on her own journey into the PhD. She talks about balancing doctoral studies with other life responsibilities. She also identifies the benefits of being a mature PhD candidate.

Tash shares advice about managing academic challenges and personal health issues.

We explore the importance of having the right support system - including tea and biscuits!

We conclude with considering the real life benefits of the PhD.

You can read a transcript of the episode here: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

In this episode we explore the value of being brave and passionate in research.

Cilla shares her own journey into research leadership and identifies the most important research skills to develop.

We consider strategies for building research collaborations and Cilla shares advice on how to maintain authenticity while navigating the ideas of others.

You can find out more about Cilla's work here:

NIHR ARC South London Applied Research Leadership Academy | ARC South London

https://arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk/events-training/events-training/nihr-arc-south-london-applied-research-leadership-academy-0

Kingston University launches academy to support academics and PhD students to become research leaders - News - Kingston University London

https://www.kingston.ac.uk/news/article/2647/18-mar-2022-kingston-university-launches-academy-to-support-academics-and-phd-students-to-become-research-leaders/

Researcher Development Concordat – Platform of Practice (vitae.ac.uk)

You can read a transcript of the episode here: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Cynthia Fasola is doctoral candidate at the University of Greenwich with a background as a research manager. Her Phd explores feedback practices and the barriers that people from ethnic minority backgrounds face within academia.

In this episode we talk about building confidence and strong foundations in the PhD process.

Cynthia shares advice on navigating the PhD application process.

She reflects on the significance of the supervisory relationship and the importance of finding the right person for you!

Cynthia also touches on the importance on reflecting on your own motivations and challenges in order that you can put the right support in place.

You can connect with Cynthia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-fasola

You can read a transcript of the episode here: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Kay Danes is an award-winning author, human rights advocate and humanitarian.

In this episode Kay shares the transformative experience of reshaping her PhD research and provides insights for other PhD candidates facing similar obstacles.

Kay posits the importance of recognising challenges as part of the academic process.

She reflects on her own major shift of both subject and department within her doctoral study.

Kay also offers a useful perspective on how to approach feedback and stay focused on your research goals.

You can find out more about Kay here: https://www.kaydanes.com/

You can read the transcript of this episode here: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Louise LePage was in her 30s when she did her MA in Drama and Performance (University College Dublin) and fell in love with academia and performance. Immediately afterwards she undertook a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she was also a Teaching Fellow. She has since held positions at University of Reading and University of York.

In this episode we explore the challenges of navigating academia whilst managing a chronic illness like ME/CFS.

Louise reflects honestly on her own lived experiences and offers tips on self-advocacy, managing expectations, and taking an active role in shaping your PhD

She explains how finding a supportive supervisor can be a game changer and talks about the role of community and acceptance.

Louise also offers golden advice for managing deadlines.

Louise's YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/@FiftyShadesofTired1971

Louise recommends Facebook groups relating to the work of Dr Sarah Myhill and the

Long Covid & ME/CFS healing through Creativity group.

You can read the transcript of this episode here: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

In this episode Gordon shares his reflections on his PhD experience - particularly the times when he wanted to give up!

Gordon discusses the challenges of balancing full-time work and the PhD.

He shares the strategies that he used to stay motivated and managing time - in particular the pomodoro method.

We explore how to deal with doubts, overwhelm and exhaustion and the importance of the right kind of support.

Gordon also offers some insights from his own experience of the viva and gives some valuable top tips.

You can find out more about the pomodoro technique here: https://thephdliferaft.com/the-pomodoro-technique-and-phd-research/

You can find out more about Nathan Ryder and Viva Survivor here: http://viva-survivors.com/about/

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Charlotte Haines Lyon has a background in Youth and Community work. She worked in a variety of youth and community settings and moved on to Adult Education including working with Age Concern. She gained a Masters in Philosophy and Religion at Heythrop College (UCL) and a PhD at York St John University. She worked as a freelance writer for a variety of charities and more recently has been developing Democratic Methodologies in Educational Research.

In this episode we look to demystify the annual review process.

Charlotte shares her own difficult experience and what she learnt from it.

We explore the key difference between annual reviews and upgrade meetings that most PhD researchers don't know.

Charlotte outlines the simple shift in perspective that can transform these high stakes moments from dread to opportunity.

She also shares the one thing that she always encourages her supervisees to do after intense review meetings.

For a transcript of this episode go to: thephdliferaft.com

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Alex Chapman is an AuDHD Music Psychologist based between the Royal Northern College of Music and Drake Music Scotland, funded through a Collaborative Doctoral Award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK Research & Innovation). They focus on neurodivergent musicians and audiences' experiences and challenges in live music settings, specifically auditory processing. They are well-versed in accessibility and reasonable adjustments, and are part of various networks relating to neurodiversity, music, and accessibility research and practice; these promote accessibility in music training, performance, and industry. Alex values community, openness, and honesty throughout education and employment, allowing for experimentation and transparency within the learning process.

In this episode we explore what reasonable adjustments are and how to figure out what is right for you. Alex shares examples of what they have found useful and offers tips for navigating the process.

We attend to particular challenges; communicating with the institution and the difference that the right adjustments can make!

If you would like to contact Alex about this episode, please direct message them on Instagram via @neurospicy_bean.

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Anne Wilson is an award-winning scriptwriter, journalist and careers counsellor. After doing an MSc and a PhD in social psychology at the LSE, and publishing a book on children's identity, she became a freelance journalist, writing for publications such as Just Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, the New York Times, Good Housekeeping and the Guardian. Anne moved on to writing for screen media and has won numerous awards for her films in the corporate sector. She has also published two crime novels, featuring Sara Kingsley, a single-mother detective — Truth or Dare and Governing Body — both published by the Women's Press.

Anne is committed to teaching and mentoring and in 2010 she started offering private careers counselling to new graduates as well as advising university applicants on their personal statements. She became a Royal Literary Fellow and, most recently, has been supporting students at Brunel University.

In this episode we tackle the mystique surrounding academic writing - what it actually is and why academics are vague about what 'good' looks like in their discipline.

Anne explains how writing is dynamic and how it changes from the starting out phase to writing up; and why your literature is not a fixed entity that won't change.

We also discuss the challenges of academic writing for neurodivergent scholars.

In closing, Anne offers a wealth of top tips including how to find your academic voice and how to ask for the feedback that you need.

Connect with Anne:

@anigone.bsky.social

https://rlfconsultants.com/consultants/anne-wilson

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/three-ways-refresh-your-academic-writing

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/using-literature-reviews-strengthen-research-tips-phds-and-supervisors

If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft