Thousands of people start graduate programs every year – and over time, many come to question their choice. Is the program right for me? Do I have too much going on in my life? Should I keep pursuing my degree – investing my time, energy and sense of my own identity in such a major undertaking? Is it worth it? Or would I be better off leaving? We asked five current and former graduate students how they dealt with these questions, and, in the end, reached a decision they could live with.

You sit down at the keyboard, ready to write up your research. But the harder you try, the worse you seem to feel. This episode asks: why is thesis-writing so mentally and emotionally taxing? We talk to two writers about their struggles with self-doubt, anxiety and loneliness and look for new ways to think about academic writing.

Navigating a graduate program is tough at the best of times. But doing so as a parent presents a whole new set of challenges. In this episode, two students share stories to help us all understand the plight of graduate student parents a little bit better. And for all the parents out there, we hope it helps you realize you're not alone in finding this hard.

People are always telling you to find work-life balance. It’s easy to say, but why is it so hard to do? In this episode, current and former grad students talk about the guilt of saying no, the anxiety of proving they belong and the mistakes they made along the way. They tell us that finding the perfect balance – and staying there, in the Goldilocks Zone – may be an impossible dream.

Grad school is challenging at the best of times. But students who have experienced past trauma may find it especially hard to cope. In this episode of Grad School Confidential, we speak with two students who embarked on PhD studies while nursing personal wounds. Note: Contains content some listeners may find disturbing.

Graduate students are more likely than most people to experience depression — a disorder that can have devastating effects on our thoughts and behaviour. In this episode, a recent PhD student explains what depression felt like, and how she reached out for help. Note: Contains discussions of suicidal thoughts and other troubling subjects.

Feeling discouraged — and a bit stunned — by some tough academic criticism? You're not alone. In this episode, we explore those painful moments in the face of criticism, why it hurts so much and how to respond. Two PhD graduates share their stories, and we hear from author Kevin D. Haggerty.

Feeling spent and exhausted? You're not alone. In this episode, three grad students tell stories about burnout at various points in their programs. They also share strategies for coping with the physical and emotional toll those experiences take.

Finding this pandemic year hard to navigate? You’re not alone. In this episode we chat with two grad students who have struggled to deal with the loneliness and isolation brought on by COVID-19. They have plenty of wisdom to share.

Impostor syndrome is one of the most common, and least talked-about, struggles in graduate student life. In our inaugural episode, we ask why grad students are so vulnerable to these feelings and share some strategies for addressing them.