PhD in Parenting Podcast

It's been over one year since the pandemic brought a halt to many of our day-to-day lives, and all signs point to it being with us well into the summer. In this week’s episode, the hosts reflect on what has carried them through thus far and what they plan to rely on in order to bring some sense of normalcy to their lives in spite of living amidst pandemic conditions. From small e

In addition to the challenges many academics are facing with various work-from-home-arrangements, the pandemic has put economic strains on universities and other organizations, leading to a drop in traditional employment opportunities for academics. In this episode, the hosts consider the so-called alt-ac career as a possibility for academics to look outside of the narrow confines

Collaborations with colleagues can be a source of strength and inspiration. Some collaborations, like this podcast, for example, allow colleagues and friends to pursue their mutual interests while receiving feedback and support via a social outlet. Amidst this pandemic, forging and maintaining such relationships is more important than ever. Join Judith and Erin as they discuss diff

Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers all around the world are feeling overworked and burnt out but continue to shoulder many of the responsibilities that have been added to family life. Popular cultural narratives about what mothers are currently going through and how they are coping with this current reality tell stories about struggles and resilience. In this episode

Most academic careers are built around applications for jobs, grants, awards, stipends, scholarships, and so forth. Competition is generally strong and as such, academics are frequently faced with rejection. In this episode, Erin and Judith ask what is so difficult about facing academic and other professional rejections and how to move forward from that initial sting. Drawing on th

Most of us working as educators in higher education realize the key role that adjunct instructors fulfill within the academy. Educators in adjunct positions often teach the lion's share of courses at colleges and universities but do not necessarily reap the rewards such as benefits or job stability that their tenure-track and full-time colleagues do. With that in mind, Judith and E

With 2020 in the rearview mirror and a new semester underway, Judith and Erin discuss how the pandemic has shaped current pedagogical practice in higher education. Whether your college has changed its mode of delivery to virtual learning, switched to a hybrid model, or returned to face-to-face instruction, your pedagogical approaches might have gone through some transformations ove

Join Judith and Erin as they have an illuminating conversation with Jessica Spott, Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology at Texas Tech University and the mother of two young boys. Jessica is also the Director of the STEM Center for Outreach, Research & Education at Texas Tech. In this episode, Jessica shares some of the roadblocks that have occurred on her journey to her Ph.D.

For many, the hope and optimism tied to a new year are especially promising as 2021 begins. In this episode, Erin and Judith discuss what happens when the pressure to be positive becomes toxic. Drawing on examples from research and their own experiences, they discuss what toxic positivity looks like at home, in the workplace, and in the academy, and how they avoid passing it on to

As 2020 (finally!) comes to an end, it would be easy to enumerate all the challenges and disappointments that the year brought. In this episode, however, Judith and Erin re-center the conversation about the year and bring focus to what they learned about themselves, their children, and their work/life this year. The opening and closing song, "Vienna Beat" by Blue Dot Sessions is li