Why do we feel guilty when we finally enjoy our lives — as PhDs, professors, or researchers?

There’s this unspoken rule in academia: if you take weekends off, you’re not serious. If you rest during the summer, you’re lazy. If you enjoy time with your family, you’re not really committed. And yet… the best insights always come during the pause — on the walk, in the shower, during the laughter.

This guilt? It has no logic. But we still carry it.

In this episode, I reflect on the pressure to always perform, the subtle shame baked into the culture of research, and why the most profound work often begins when we stop working. If you’ve ever felt like resting means failing — this one’s for you.

Take a breath. You’re doing okay. And if someone has a problem with that?

Screw them.