It’s our 75thepisode, and to celebrate we flip the tables and put long time host, and departing Editor-in-Chief, Dr Gaz ‘Gareth’ J Johnson (University of Warwick) into the guest role. In this extended conversation, led by Dr Fiona Fisher (Associate Director, Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick) we delve into the rich and storied history of Gareth’s time working on the journal. The conversation ranges from what attracted him to it in the first place, through the evolution of a unique and human-centric managerial style through to the broader aspects of the Chief Editor’s activities.
Along the way we learn some home truths about what really goes on in an everyday context for a chief editor, some of the challenges he’s experienced and reveal what he thought were the triumphs of his editorial reign. There’s also a chance to hear more about those ambitions which weren’t met, and what might have worked better with the benefit of hindsight. In keeping with tradition, we close with advice to editors generally, and specifically for his successor to the Chief Editor role.
As such, this episode is the perfect listen for anyone wanting to get more involved in editorship, wants to understand the life of a leading editor or simply who would love to discover more of the story behind the pages of Exchanges.
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit:http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00– Opening
00:30– Introductions
02:26– Initial appointment & early changes
08:00– Aligning with the IAS, open-access & embracing inclusivity
11:58– Engendering a positive publishing research culture
14:30– An editor’s life experiences
18:50– Exploring interdisciplinarity
22:08– Opening the publication ‘black box’
28:11– Title evolution & growth
33:10– Secret origins of special issues
40:26– Triumphs & highlights
43:52– The roads not taken
47:25– Embracing non-anglophone authors
51:38– Professionalisation & the Editorial Board
56:58– Advice for future editors
66:56– Impressions, feelings & the future
72:02– Closing thoughts & moments of amusement
74:20– Outro
In a follow up to our last episode, I am joined in conversation by Una MacGlone (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, UK), the sixth contributor to the Exchanges paper The Labour of Thought: Reflections on Interdisciplinarity in Practice. As she was unable to join us for the previous recording with her colleagues, I was delighted she could make time for the podcast on another day.
As an amplification of our previous episode’s discussions, Una and myself further explore the inspirations for the joint paper, which offered a multiplicity of views on being an interdisciplinary scholar. We especially explore the extant tensions which must be addressed by researchers seeking to become interdisciplinarians. In this way, Una’s insights resonate strongly with her colleagues, while revealing how her unique perspectives as both musician and musical scholar have aided her in tackling some of the ‘interdisciplinary tensions’ which challenge new entrants to this field.
As our conversation continues we turn to discussions of lived publishing challenges, and routes to overcoming them not simply as an author but also as a reviewer contributor too. Touching on what Dr Corey Mwamba highlights as the importance of ‘rigor and care’ in this field, we explore the effective practice of peer-review from both an authorial and reviewer perspective. We also have a discussion concerning how networking can provide a supporting armature to the publishing scholar, even when some approaches may take us out of our personal comfort zones.
To read the article which inspired our conversation visit:
https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i2.1839
Orto see Una’s other publications visit:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Una-Macglone
Orto find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00– Opening
00:40 – Introductions
03:02– Intersections of Practice & Research
07:26– Paper Insights
11:26– Leveraging Interdisciplinary Tensions
15:18– Resonance, Authenticity & Labour
19:04– Biographical Publishing Experiences
22:28– Dealing With Reviewer Feedback
26:48– Emotional Labour & Peer Review
33:40– Publishing & Networking Advice
39:42– Outro
In this special panel edition of The Exchanges Discourse podcast, I welcome five past journal contributors - Abiodun Egbetokun, Ed McKeon, Denis Newman-Griffis, Claire Sedgwick, and Aikaterini Tavoulari - for a lively and reflective conversation on their recent Exchanges article, The Labour of Thought: Reflections on Interdisciplinarity in Practice.
Together, we unpack the collaborative journey behind their interdisciplinary work: from the initial spark of inspiration to the challenges of navigating diverse academic traditions and the necessary labour to achieve your goals. Each guest shares personal insights into the interdisciplinary research, writing and publishing process, especially from an early career perspective, and highlights how their unique disciplinary voices shaped the final piece. We also delve into the broader themes of academic authorship – making yourself heard, negotiating interdisciplinary tensions, and building a research narrative that feels both authentic and impactful. The episode closes as always with valuable, first-hand advice for emerging researchers preparing their earliest publications, much of which resonates with the wider episode discussions.
Whether you’re exploring interdisciplinary collaboration for the first time or looking to refine your academic voice, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration, experience, and encouragement.
To read the article which inspired our conversation visit: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i2.1839
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00 – Opening
00:32 – Introductions
06:42 – Opening & exploring the paper
19:16 – Inspirations, provocations & next steps
29:06 – Lived publishing & editorial experiences
46:00 – Advice to academic authors
60:12 – Outro
In this episode I reunite with Kevin Sanders (Open Access Engagement Lead, Copim/Open Book Collective) to talk about his work in the realm of making open access monographs more of a reality. We explore how Copim (Community-led Open Publication Infrastructures for Monographs) originated via the Radical Open Access conference of 2018, and how it has gone on to a pivotal force for change within open scholarly communications for books. Along the way we contrast the evolving open journals scene over the past couple of decades with that of monographs today, examining how some policies and practices might resonate despite some considerable differences between these communication mechanisms. We touch on the reaction from institutions and individual academics, while Kevin explains some of the unique challenges facing a greater uptake of open access monograph publication. We close with some suggestions and advice for academics and authors wanting to explore them more for themselves.
You can explore more about the Copim here:
https://www.copim.ac.uk/
Or the Open Book Collective here:
https://openbookcollective.org/
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00 – Opening
00:32 – Introductions
03:59 – What is COPIM & the Open Book Collective?
05:56 – Typical Day in the Life of Open Monographs
07:34 – Open Access Monograph Challenges
19:26 – Academic Reactions & Shifts in the Open Landscape
27:38 – What Can I Do? Advice for would be monograph authors
32:46 – Key Points & Messages
36:58 – Outro
In our latest episode I talk with Andrew Barker (University Librarian, University of Lancaster) about an open access monograph (book) publishing programme he’s spearheaded: Trailblazers. We discuss how the support of Liverpool University Press alongside collaboration with an increasing range of partner institutions has been vital in enabling the programme. We explore how Trailblazers works intimately with early career authors, supporting them as they publish their open-access books through the press. We move on to discuss the challenges of overcoming the inertia from centuries of ‘standard practice’ in publishing as well as considering the many successes and lessons which have emerged from Trailblazer’s activities over its first two years of operations. We conclude by looking at how others can get involved and conclude with a general debate over the personal responsibility and individual tenacity required to achieve authentic publishing cultural change.
You can explore more about the Trailblazers programme here: https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/pages/trailblazers
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchangesresearch journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00 – Opening
00:42 – Introductions
02:44 – Understanding Trailblazers
07:36 – Facing Challenges
12:00 – Celebrating the Successes
16:32 – Unexpected Lessons & Outcomes
22:06 – Advice to Others
24:54 – Raising Awareness & Promoting the Programme
28:53 – Outro
For our second episode of 2025, I’m in conversation withauthor and health psychologist Sarah Golding (Surrey,UK). Alongside discussing her career and research activities, we focus in on an exploration of her recent article An Early Career Perspective on the Value of Interdisciplinary Training Networks, published in Exchanges (Vol 12.1). In particular, Sarah reveals how participating in an interdisciplinarytraining scheme, exposed her to a range of invaluable experiences, site visits and invaluable conversations with colleagues across the disciplines. Given her current work dealing with ‘grand environmental challenges’, requires cross and trans-disciplinary approaches, she expounds on how participating in such a programme helped initiate and inspire exactly these sorts of working and research practices.Along the way, we also talk over Sarah’s publication experiences – good, bad and indifferent – and she’s learned from these to become a better, more confident and successful academic writer. As always, she offers her tips for early career researchers looking to publish their earliest articles.
To read Sarah’s original article visit: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i1.1595
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchangesresearch journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00 – Opening
00:36 – Introductions
04:32 – Paper explorations & interdisciplinary challenges
18:06 – Key messages and outcomes
24:42 – Experiences with publishing, and author advice
38:52 – Outro
For our first podcast of 2025, I talk with the hosts of the incredibly successful academic podcast Theoryish – Hannah Ayres and Paola Medina-Gonzalez (University of Warwick). In a lively exchange, they tell me how their academic thirst for knowledge acted as the instigation for an ongoing discussion series looking at books, researchers and theory from an enthused early career perspective. Along the way they offer some insights into the changing academic discourse and publication sphere, and we consider the part podcasting can play in this evolving field and within an academic career. Throughout, Paola and Hannah also graciously offer a range of tips and inspirations to other aspiring academics and research students looking to create and capture their own conversations within the podcast format.
To listen to the Theoryish podcast visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qDMP6AuodFB7KLcdvXz9e
Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/
Episode Index
00:00 – Opening
00:44 – Introductions
01:56 – What is Theoryish?
05:00 – A Podcasting Vision
10:16 – Listener Demographics
15:24 – Inspirations, Planning & Strategy
18:37 – Relistening Reflections
21:16 – Challenges & Theoryish Evolution
29:08 – Tips for Academic Podcasters
34:06 – Outro
In our last podcast of the year, we talk with recent Exchanges author Giulia Lorenzi (University of Warwick). We talk through her career as a philosopher and musical scholar, with particular attention to her paper on public engagement with academic research. In her paper, ‘Musical Reflections’: An experience with public engagement, Giulia explores the challenges and inspirations which arise when scholars seek to engage disparate members of the public with academic research and discourse. Citing the amazingly positive experience, she explains how it reinvigorated the joy of research for her, and how she wishes more academics could experience such encounters. We also chat about her publishing experiences with other journals, and especially the impact that editor and reviewer comments can have on authors – for better or for worse. As always, we close out our discussions with some advice for other newer authors in the early career and post graduate researcher community too.
You can read Giulia’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i1.1522
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:44 – Introductions
03:18 – Discussing the paper
10:40 – Public engagement challenges
16:40 – Key messages from engagement
18:35 – Future research publications
20:12 – Academic publishing experiences
26:02 – Advice to early career authors
30:44 – Outro (end)
This episode I have a revealing conversation with Mia-Marie Hammarlin (Media & Communication Studies, Lund University, Sweden), who contributed to the most recent issue of Exchanges. We talk through her diverse career in ethnology and communication, and explore the particular challenges to researchers as individuals from self-doubt and insecurity. We explore Mia-Marie’s paper - Interdisciplinary Labour: Researchers’ bodies at work – and the oft disregarded anxieties and physical sensations which can potentially overwhelm even the most hardy academics in a professional setting. After discussing various coping strategies, we move on to discuss her other work, in particular that dealing with vaccine-hesitancy within a performative and artistic lens. As always, we take a trip through the guest author’s publication experiences outside of Exchanges, and the lessons learned from each one. We close our energised conversation with Mia-Marie’s recommendations for new and emerging academic authors for creating their own impactful articles.
You can read Mia-Marie’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i1.1612
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:41 – Introductions & publishing with Exchanges
04:21 – Article discussions & researcher impacts
14:39 – Vulnerability & emotional affect in research
21:52 – Key article messages
25:16 – Work & publications in progress
29:54 – Lived academic publishing experiences
37:21 – Advice for early career authors
38:49 – Outro (end)
We are delighted to share the first of a series of guest episodes on the theme of ‘Energy & Poetry’. With many thanks to the MaREI, Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, University College Cork. Ireland.
This episode is about renewable energy. It features a reading and discussion of a poem – Wind and Wave, by Derek Mahon – which explores renewable energy technologies of wind turbines and wave energy.
The podcast opens with a historical preamble on the long history of wind technologies, particularly windmills, which sets the scene for the entrance of its modern cousin: the wind turbine. The poem and the discussion of the poem switch between the human scale of wind blowing a musical instrument and the planetary scale of wind powering the electrification of our modern lives. The podcast features an interview with Brendan Tuohy, the chairperson of EirGrid (the electricity system operator in Ireland), who previously had the poem published in EirGrid’s annual report and who presents a perspective on the role of poetry in the energy transition.
Music by: Francis Heery and hosted by Fionn Rogan & Paul Deane (MaREI), with Brendan Tuohy (MaREI & EirGrid) and coordination by Evan Boyle (MaREI). A transcription of this episode is available. Listeners might also be interested in Life On Earth, by Derek Mahon and the EirGrid Annual Report 2022.
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Episode Index
00:00 – Exchanges introduction
00:46 – Episode introduction with Francis Heery
03:48 – Wind & Wave by Derek Mahon
05:00 – Wind power in Ireland today
08:35 – Life on earth, poetry & Lovelock
10:50 – Irish power, poetry & Brendan Tuohy interview
23:34 – Transitioning, data demands & Mahon
27:34 – Acknowledgements and close
28:32 – Exchanges outro
This time I’m chatting to Taryn Bell (Organisational Development & Professional Learning, University of Leeds), who’s another of our contributors to the recent research culture special issue. We talk through Taryn’s varied career in archaeology and more recent efforts in researcher development. And it’s the latter of these which forms the focus of her paper The More the Merrier: Approaches to the design and delivery of professional development for researchers in UK higher education institutions, which we explore in some detail. We discuss the benefits and challenges in organising researcher development events, targeted at specific seniority levels or broadly accessible alike, along with danger in assuming anything about the age of scholars at different career stages. Along the way, we talk about Taryn’s publishing experience, focusing especially on dealing with reviewers, but also in terms of positive experiences too. We close out our conversation as always with advice for early career scholars about publishing and crafting their early articles.
You can read Taryn’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i3.1537
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:41 – Introductions
03:59 – Article discussions
12:38 – Other publications & peer-reviewers
17:56 – Positive publishing experiences
21:33 – Advice for authors
24:36 – Outro (end)
In our latest episode we talk with Anna Fancett (Researcher Development Online, University of Warwick), who contributed to our recent special issue on research culture. We talk through Anna’s varied international career, as well as her current work helping to develop academics' writing and publishing skills. We also take a look at Anna’s recent article in Exchanges (Developing Researchers’ Writing Skills: Acritical reflection of developing a series of academic writing workshops for postgraduates) and what lessons can be drawn from it. We chat too about Anna’s varied publication experiences, including some valuable advice in terms of positively engaging with peer-review and reviewers. We end as always with advice for early career scholars about publishing and crafting their early articles.
You can read Anna’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i3.1567
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:38 – Introductions
04:53 – Focusing on the article
10:15 – Unexpected research outcomes
15:08 – Other publications in progress
18:10 – Personal publication experiences
21:02 – Advice for early career authors
26:02 – Outro (end)
This episode takes a look back at the special issue and symposium which formed a big part of the Modern Record Centre’s 50th anniversary celebration. Pierre Botcherby (Dept of Modern Languages, University of Warwick) and Rachel MacGregor (MRC, University of Warwick) talk us through their article The Modern Records Centre (MRC): Fifty years on and how it related to the special symposium hosted in September 2023. We touch on the highlights from the event, and those speakers who especially resonated with the pair, along with the kinds of message we hope readers and delegates alike took away from these activities. We also take the chance to reflect on where next for the MRC, and especially the role it may be playing in Warwick’s forthcoming 60th anniversary celebrations.
You can read Pierre & Rachel’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i4.1741
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Introductions
06:59 – Article overview
13:43 – Symposium & issue highlights
22:57 – Central messages & key points
29:32 – Where next for the MRC?
34:00– Outro (end)
In this episode we talk to history student and former novice historical archive user Nia Belcher (History, University of Warwick) about her paper and experiences in using archives. As an undergraduate student, Nia’s paper – Using the Modern Records Centre as an Undergraduate – offers a canid look at the difficulties and delights that can be found even for less experienced researchers within the MRC. Contrasting this with her experiences at other archives in the UK and abroad, Nia shares some of the surprises that using digital and physical archival collections have offered towards her studies. She also kindly offers some words of advice for other students who might be thinking about using an archive about the steps they can take to get the most out of the experience.
You can read Nia’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i4.1553
Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Introductions
03:22 – Using the MRC as a student
04:39 – Surprise encounters
06:05 – Physical vs digital collection use
07:48 – advice for other archive users
11:11 – Outro (end)
In a change of pace this episode we talk with recent Warwick graduate Osamu Miyamae (IATL/Politics & International Studies), about the work he and colleagues have been doing in the realm of citational justice. We discuss the project, sponsored by the Reinvention Journal – one of Exchanges’ sister titles – and start by asking the most obvious question: what is citational justice? We move on to talk about the projects specific aims and especially the best practices at other journals its researches uncovered. We move on then to look at the major outcomes, and what these mean for the project, for Reinvention and of course Osamu himself.
You can find out more about Reinvention, and the citational justice project here: https://reinventionjournal.org/index.php/reinvention/index
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:35 – Introductions
02:00 – What is ‘citational justice?’
04:05 – Disciplinary differences & rectification
07:00 – Citational Justice project overview
09:15 – Uncovered exemplar practices
13:12 – Key findings
17:19 – Where next & report publication
20:55– Outro (end)
This episode we have the wonderful Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Hidson (Faculty of Education and Society, University of Sunderland) on the podcast to talk about her research and educational work training teachers from around the world. In talking about her paper (Developing a Research Culture with Trainee Teachers on International Initial Teacher Training Programmes). Liz expands on her desires to create a research culture within teaching practitioners. She also highlights the many challenges, differing perceptions and insights which come from working alongside trainee teachers and academics drawn from a myriad of international cultures and backgrounds. After this we move on to look at some forthcoming publications from Liz. In particular we discuss the benefits open access publishing brings in terms of increased readership and through reducing any financial barriers for readers outside of academia. We then talk about some of Liz’s own experiences in publishing, before closing with her advice for new authors to ‘find your tribe’ in terms of publishing and creating an effective research discourse.
You can read Liz’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i3.1527
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:34 – Introductions
02:20 - Article discussions
06:16 – Practitioners as a researcher community
11:04 – Appreciating international perceptions & expertise
14:46 – Forthcoming publication plans
16:12 – Personal publishing experiences
19:56 – Advice for new authors
23:40 – Outro (end)
In a very special episode, I have a lengthy discussion with Jonathan Vickery (School of Creative Arts, University of Warwick) about his life, research and thoughts on publication. While we touch on his recent article for Exchanges (Critical Reflections on Universities, Publishing, and the Early Career Experience), Jonathan expands to consider the challenges facing higher education, research students and early career researchers as we reach an era of major change in publication praxis. Touching on ideas of knowledge economy, academic enterprise and collaboration vs competition in the academy, Jonathan offers a beautiful companion to both his article and discussions hosted at the Institute of Advanced Study. Nevertheless, there is time as always to offer some practical advice and guidance for academic authors approaching their first or earliest research publications.
You can read Jonathan’s Article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i2.1583
Our thanks to Warwick's School of Arts for the use of their podcasting suite to record this episode.
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:44 – Introductions
03:11 – Centre for Policy Studies & IAS Seminars
06:10 – AI, education and publication transitions
11:53 – Adapting to feedback and interdisciplinarity
16:06 – A whole (new) world of knowledge production
21:18 – Upskilling research students for future publication trends
27:22 – Academics as knowledge workers
30:30 – Core messages of the Exchanges paper
32:30 – Power dynamics and knowledge economy actors
35:30 – The (local) roads not taken & barriers to publishing change
40:58 – Past personal publishing experiences
47:12 – Entering into the republic of knowledge
57:10 – Advice for new academic authors
59:18– Outro (end)
In today’s episode I talk with WMG’s Phil Jemmett (@Philjemmett, University of Warwick) about his life and work, and especially his article Engaging Academics with Outreach: How the ‘STEM Connections’ model empowers staff. Along the way we talk about his publishing experiences, thoughts on being a public academic and techniques for engaging the public with academic research and expertise. We also touch on matters of good presentational skills and the best routes to capturing an audience’s attention. As always, we finish by offering some advice to less seasoned academic authors in publishing approaches.
You can read Phil and colleagues article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i3.1544
This episode is part of a mini-season talking to authors about issues of research culture, tied in to our recent special issue on this subject, produced in association with the National Centre for Research Culture (NCRC).
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
00:44 – Introductions
04:13 – University speakers and expertise
11:28 – Core messages and concise speaking
14:04 – Academic speaking advice
16:00 – Personal publishing experience & reflections
20:58 – Publishing ethics & vulnerable research groups
25:00 – Public perceptions of academics
27:00 – Advice for new authors
30:50 – Being an effective academic communicator
34:40 – Outro (end)
In this episode we talk to Liam Greenacre (@LiamG352) about his recent book review article for exchanges: Postdisciplinary Knowledge, Edited by Tomas Pernecky. In our conversation we discus Liam’s work in the ontology and postdisciplinary arena, along with how this book and a summer school served to inspire and shape his thinking. We touch too on his work in a transdisciplinary, political and complex systems mode in and around issues of futures studies. As always, we touch on issues of publication, and look at the importance that having confidence in your work, original insights and writing is important especially for new academic authors.
You can read Liam’s article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i2.1464
Timecode
0:00 - Opening
0:52 – Introductions & Context
01:54 – Postdisciplinary Knowledge
03:57 – Academic Inspirations
05:54 – Other Publishing Plans
07:03 – Publishing Experiences
9:49 – Advice for New Authors
12:11 – Closing & Outro
This episode we talk with Associate Fellow Simona Di Martino (@SimoDiMa1) about the recent conference event she organised at Warwick which tackled questions of girlhood, transnationalism, identify, gender and culture. We talk about the challenges and delights of hosting such an event, and Simona reflects on the emergent themes and key messages discussed by the participants. Girlhood is, Simona argues, a neglected area of study, making an event such as this not just a crucial forum for current scholars, but a way to energise and enthuse the next generation of researchers in the topic.
Podcasts of the conference talks will be coming soon on the conference site.
Timecode
0:00 - Opening
0:49 – Introductions & Context
4:17 – Event Format & Keynote Speakers
7:13 – American Dolls, Toys and Comics
10:00 – Favourite Papers & Absent Elements
13:50 – New Scholars & Takeaway Messages
17:12 – Lessons, Reflections & the Future
21:30 – Closing & Outro
