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: a.e.a.dawson@swansea.ac.uk & i.a.g.winton@swansea.ac.uk
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 luigephdlaunch@gmail.com 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
Students and Graduates,
Eilian Richmond is a PhD graduate from Swansea University, who wrote his dissertation about the literary contradictions and hyper linkage within the Bible using his upcoming novel Earthbound as a reference.
Earthbound is a satire whom Eilian in his humanistic tone and satirical character, challenges the biblical scenes by mixing his doctoral arguments with his satirical scenes based on biblical episodes across his novel.
Strong language, puns and (doctoral) criticism about the literary contradictions across the Bible are mentioned. Listener discretion is advised for those who have read the Bible and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and God's words.
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Are you a PhD student/graduate who would like to be featured on PhD Lounge or for any business inquiries? Email me at luisphdlounge@gmail.com
Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!
References about the biblical hyperlinked texts and their literary contradictions: Philosophadam. (2021, June 20). The First Hyperlinked Text: The Bible and its 63,779 Cross-References. Words From the Wind. https://philosophadam.wordpress.com/2018/05/16/the-first-hyperlinked-text-the-bible-and-its-63779-cross-references/
BibViz Project - Bible Contradictions, Misogyny, Violence, Inaccuracies interactively visualized. (n.d.). https://philb61.github.io/index.html
Reach out Eilian Richmond, PhD: eilianjohn@outlook.com
linkedin.com/in/dr-eilian-richmond-502933239
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Students and Graduates!
In this new late-night solo talk of the PhD Iceberg Explained Series, I speak about the issue of Writer's Block, a common feature that affects PhDs, overall.
But is Writer's Block really a cognitive and intellectual challenge to all of us or is it just NONSENSE?!
Stay tuned for this solo session as I share three impactful insights along with some solutions that PhDs must put into practice if they feel they have Writer's Block.
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Are you a PhD student/graduate who would like to be featured on PhD Lounge or for any business inquiries? Email me at luisphdlounge@gmail.com
Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!
Cited Bibliography:
Bergler, E. (1950). Does “writer’s block” exist? PubMed, 7(1), 43–54. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15413593
Lumivero. (2024, June 12). Dealing with writer’s block. Lumivero. https://lumivero.com/resources/dealing-with-writers-block/
Pantry, P. I. a. F. (2021, May 6). New kid on the (writer’s) block: A history of writer’s block through food. The Past Is a Foreign Pantry. https://thepastisaforeignpantry.com/2021/05/06/new-kid-on-the-writers-block-a-history-of-writers-block-through-food/
Welpinghus, A. (2019, February 4). A Theory of Writer’s Block. The Philosophers’ Cocoon. https://philosopherscocoon.typepad.com/blog/2019/04/a-theory-of-writers-block.html
Zorbaz, K. Z. (2015). The effects of various variables on university students’ writer’s block levels. The Anthropologist, 21(1–2), 311–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2015.11891820
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Students and Graduates!
This new session of the PhD Iceberg Series explores four points about PhD students with research funding and self-funding their research. Precisely, it explores the psychology and mindset of a funded and self-funded PhD!
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Are you a PhD student/graduate who would like to be featured on PhD Lounge or for any business inquiries? Email me at luisphdlounge@gmail.com
Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!
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Cited Sources:
Bloch, C., Graversen, E. K., & Pedersen, H. S. (2014). Competitive research grants and their impact on career performance. Minerva, 52(1), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-014-9247-0
Mogaji, E., Adamu, N., & Nguyen, N. P. (2021). Stakeholders shaping experiences of self-funded international PhD students in UK business schools. The International Journal of Management Education, 19(3), 100543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100543
Li, H., & Horta, H. (2023). Exploring the identity development of PhD graduates transitioning to non‐researcher roles. Higher Education Quarterly, 78(2), 421–435. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12452
Kapur, R. (2023). Self-Funded Learning: Facilitating in achievement of Educational Goals. The Journal of Social Sciences Studies and Research, 3(04), Page: 166–172. Retrieved from https://tjsssr.com/index.php/tjsssr/article/view/76
Grote, D., Patrick, A., Lyles, C., Knight, D., Borrego, M., & Alsharif, A. (2021). STEM doctoral students’ skill development: does funding mechanism matter? International Journal of STEM Education, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-021-00308-w
Tiraboschi, M. (2019). The Employer’s Perspective of Practice-Based Doctorates: A Paradigm Change.
Students and graduates!
Dr Michael Gerharz, a German PhD in Computer Science, talks about the importance of effective communication and what makes a great public communicator.
Effective communication is a skill every PhD student must master, yet many struggle to make their complex research understandable to a lay audience. Dr Michael tackles this challenge head-on, drawing from personal experiences of explaining intricate research to family members without academic backgrounds to anecdotes about the reluctance of some academics and non-academics to simplify their language to practical advice on using plain language and digital tools.
To know more about Dr Michael Gerharz and his brilliant work on effective public communication, check out his website where you can find his articles, his blog "The Art of Communicating" and his new book The PATH to Strategic Impact: https://michaelgerharz.com/
Irresistible Communication Podcast: https://michaelgerharz.com/podcast
Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!
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Students and Graduates!
Natalie Jarvis is a PhD candidate from Swansea University, researching the UK workforce within the volunteering and disability sectors.
Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!
To know more about her research, check out her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-louise-jarvis-/
I was a guest at The Butterfly Princess Show, hosted by Steph Marie: https://youtu.be/uNapY4rkmDQ?si=yxdqOfGGPceI-ven
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Students and Graduates!
This session of the PhD Iceberg Explained Series is about the use of social media and in what ways you can sell yourself as a PhD student/candidate. Enculturation is a characteristic of social media which I describe some of its aspects that are popular in PhD education. Those being #s, university branding, entrepreneurship, blogs, vlogs, and many more to stand out yourself within the PhD social media world! I hope you enjoy hearing this session. Thank you for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!
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Check out this podcast: No Shame in my Name (NSIMN) https://open.spotify.com/show/75MJau8BwyVIPcrnjfflmJ?si=8eca8951cfb64a93
Students and Graduates!
This session of the PhD Iceberg Explained series entails the overall challenges of the first PhD draft, where I share some thoughts about what to consider to present your first written draft to your supervisor. Writing the first draft is not easy and it can be time consuming and overwhelming to leave good first impressions on paper when we start the PhD.
Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!
UPDATE!!: The PhD Lounge is now on Twitch and you watch my livestream sessions about my solo and late-night interviews talks. Being new to Twitch, I'm still playing around to make yourselves comfortable in hearing my voice and watching me speaking!
Are you a PhD student and liked to be interviewed on a late-night session? Email to: luisphdlounge@gmail.com
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Students and Graduates!
Happy Easter and Spring Break! New session in the PhD Lounge Podcast! This is the second episode of the PhD Iceberg Explained Series, where I talk about the research proposal, the first step to apply for your PhD, and what it entails. However, I narrate it from the perspective of the supervisor and how the supervisor's role and academic expertise can help the student to enter into the PhD journey but also the beginning of a relationship between student and supervisor.
Throughout this session, I explain some points the supervisor applies to students who are writing the PhD research proposal which are essential to build a strong relationship such as feedback and emotional support. I hope you enjoy the 2nd session of the PhD Iceberg Explained Series, and more sessions of this series and late-night interviews are coming soon!
Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!
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Students and Graduates!
The PhD Lounge Podcast is back, and with a new session series!
While I am still tremendously busy in researching and writing my PhD thesis, as well as trying to submit abstracts to participate into conferences, I am still emerged into the PhD Lounge Podcast to create new content around PhD and seeking PhD students to become my guests.
First of all, congratulations to all students who entered in university this academic year, wishing all their best in this new journey that will demand from you in three or four years.
For this new podcast series at the PhD Lounge, I am introducing the Iceberg theory, created by American journalist Ernest Hemingway, into the context of the PhD. This first episode of the PhD Iceberg explained, I describe six main points I personally consider where any student could think about once deciding to apply for a PhD. The decision of applying for a PhD would be the very first step which the any student starts to climb the iceberg until reaching the graduation results, which is the tip of the iceberg, and what is below slowly becomes ignored. With this new series, I try to call the attention of students and the general audience what a PhD is really about and what the title of Doctor of Philosophy heavily carries behind, literally years and years of research, writing and discussing.
I hope you all enjoy hearing this first session of the PhD Iceberg Explained series.
Thank you all for listening, it has been a pleasure!
