Your Words Unleashed

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One of the biggest dilemmas academic authors face, particularly when their topic has broad appeal, is the decision of whether or not to publish with a trade press. This is further complicated by how hard it is to find answers, as the trade publishing industry is a whole different ballgame from scholarly publishing.

Luckily for you, my amazing guest in this episode, educator, author, speaker, and race and education scholar, Dr. OiYan Poon, will help demystify the process and give you a sense of direction!

Dr. Poon is the author of the new book, Asian American is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family published by Beacon, a trade/crossover press. 

In this episode, we compare her experience publishing her book with Beacon versus the books she published with more traditional scholarly presses. She shares all the lessons she learned (and all the mistakes she made) throughout the process.

Listen in for tips for how to navigate this journey!

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Are you an academic struggling with writing or feeling isolated in your scholarly journey?

In this episode I welcome my friend and writing coach, Dr. Michelle Boyd, to talk about the magic of writing retreats. These retreats provide not only time and space but also a supportive community and practical skills that can transform your writing experience. Michelle is the founder and director of Inkwell Academic Writing Retreats, a transformative program designed to help scholars overcome their writing fears. 

Michelle also shares about going from an award-winning tenured professor to a writing coach who helps academics unlock their natural writing processes.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Are you scared to death about how you're going to be able to get any writing done this fall? If so, join the club!

In this episode I'm going to offer you some ideas to help you focus on your own research when you're juggling a million other responsibilities. I'll give you three surprisingly simple questions you can ask yourself to create useful writing strategies throughout the semester.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Are you a woman of color in academia searching for strategies to help you thrive?  What is some practical advice on handling department politics without jeopardizing your career? Look no further!

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Katherine Lee, a Higher-Ed Coach, Career Strategist, and founder of Rise With Clarity. We talk about her journey from being a tenured professor to now coaching women of color faculty members to. We discuss the unique challenges folks from marginalized communities face in academic spaces. Katherine also shares the supportive community she's co-created called the Compassionate Cohort, which focuses on the needs of faculty members who are leaving the academy. 

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Do you feel like perfectionism gets in the way of your happiness or achieving your goals? Perfectionism is usually seen as a big problem. What if, instead, it was actually a superpower? In this episode, I'm going to give you some ideas on how to do this, based on the book The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by therapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, PhD. Listen in for the reasons why we need to rethink perfectionism and ideas for transforming it into a source of joy and personal success!

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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What do acquisitions editors do at scholarly presses? What things make a book project stand out? When is the best time to contact presses and editors? Why is it incredibly useful to work with a developmental editor?

In this episode, I welcome Jenny Gavacs, a developmental editor who specializes in sharpening arguments and improving the flow of academic books. We discuss all of these questions and so much more. Jenny shares insights from her extensive experience in acquisitions at top university presses and highlights the multifaceted role that editors play. 

We also discuss the three different types of scholarly arguments, the importance of developmental editing, and how early engagement with editors can enhance the overall success of your book.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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In this exciting episode of Your Words Unleashed, Leslie sits down with Dr. Angélica  Gutiérrez, esteemed scholar and one of the world's best business professors under 40. Dr. Gutiérrez shares her fascinating journey through academia and her eye-opening research on imposter syndrome and impostorization--a term she coined that refers to how the environment makes certain people feel like impostors. She opens up about her own struggles with feeling inadequate and reveals the environmental factors that often contribute to these feelings, especially among women and people of color. 

Tune in as Leslie and Angélica dive into the ins and outs of imposter syndrome, the concept of the "glass cliff," and why creating inclusive environments is so crucial. This episode is packed with valuable insights, personal stories, and practical tips on overcoming imposter syndrome and building more supportive, equitable workplaces. You won't want to miss it!

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Writing a book is a daunting task, often exacerbated by our own negative thoughts and beliefs. But what if changing the way you think about writing is the key to getting unstuck? 

In today’s episode, I give four mindset shifts that can help you break through writer’s block. These simple but transformative mental reframes can turn a deeply stressful process into a more fulfilling, creative journey. So tune in to discover how changing your thoughts can help you reignite your passion for writing and help  build a world you want to inhabit.

Also, in this episode I announce my new one-on-one coaching program, the Career Reset, designed specifically for overwhelmed academics. This program will help you clarify your career vision, create space for what truly matters, and align your work with your internal purpose, all in just six hour-long sessions over four months. Whether you’re looking to re-energize your academic career or contemplating a significant change, this program offers the guidance and support you need. Check out all the details on my website at YourWordsUnleashed.com.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Finding the right balance between work and life in academia can be a never-ending struggle. That's why in this episode I'm chatting with accomplished professor and author of the popular Academia Made Easier online newsletter, Dr. Loleen Berdahl.

Loleen has a wealth of knowledge about academic professional development. Her strategies for balancing work and life provide invaluable insight as we discuss things like setting achievable goals, implementing boundaries, and focusing on self-care to avoid burnout to make it through the semester in one piece.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com

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Are you feeling completely exhausted and depleted at the end of this long school year? Join the club! If you're like most academics, you love what you do. The problem is that the work has become way TOO MUCH. Today I will re-air one of my most downloaded episodes. In it, I give 3 actionable steps to heal from burnout so that you can recuperate to the fullest this summer and redesign your job to work for you.

Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com