Engineering Pack Pod

In this episode, Rob Drew, Senior Manager of IT at Red Hat and NC State alum, joins us to talk about what it truly means to lead and mentor with purpose. He shares lessons in resilience, navigating change, and building trust within teams, along with insights on balancing work and happiness. Rob also discusses the importance of transparency, listening, and self-awareness in leadership, plus how too...

In a time when you’re working around the clock to finish your classes and research, professional development might sound unimportant and almost impossible. Marcy and Luka, however, in this new installment of the Courage Corner, explain that professional development is an incremental task that starts small. They break down how to navigate your first performance review, set manageable short-term goa...

Feeling stuck in a campus conflict or overwhelmed by university policy? You're not alone, and there's a confidential resource designed specifically to help. This week, we sit down with Mike Giancola, NC State’s Student Ombuds, to demystify this vital service. Mike discusses how he helps students, faculty, and staff navigate tough situations by offering a neutral perspective, facilitating c...

This week, Luka sits down with Marcy to discuss his journey in time management, from feeling completely overwhelmed to taking control of his time. He shares the practical strategies that helped him turn things around, from using a simple reminder app to centralize his chaotic schedule to the goal-setting powerpoint that keeps him motivated. Luka gets real about the challenge of saying "no,&qu...

This week, Luka sits down with Marcy to tackle a topic that can make even the most confident professional hesitate: networking. Marcy reframes networking, describing it not as transactional schmoozing, but as the courage to build genuine connections. She unveils the reality of the “hidden job market,” where most opportunities are filled through relationships long before a job is ever posted. Toget...

In part two of our conversation with Dr. Devin Hubbard, we explore what it really takes to adjust to new surroundings in work and life. He opens up about the value of building a strong network, the underrated power of saying “no,” and the lessons he learned from early teaching missteps. Dr. Hubbard also shares insights on balancing career and family, the challenges students faced during the pandem...

This week, Dr. Devin Hubbard from the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering joins the show. He argues that while technical skills are essential, the true differentiators for a successful engineering career are often the professional skills: communication and networking. Dr. Hubbard shares his hands-on methods for teaching these competencies, from a deliberately awkward 30-second...

This week, professor, associate department head, mother, and coxswain Katherine Saul joins us to explore the question: How do you integrate a high-powered career with family life? Dr. Saul reflects on the pivotal moments that shape us, from a wall of pictures honoring those who came before to the unexpected gift of building a “found family” network. She offers candid advice on choosing a true part...

Too often, graduate students sacrifice rest, nourishment, and connection in pursuit of achievement, only to find themselves overwhelmed and running on empty. In this third installment of the Courage Corner, Luka turns the mic on Marcy, inviting her to share her own self-care practices and the science that backs them. She explores why movement should feel joyful, how gratitude rewires the brain, an...

This week, Dr. Amna Shabbir joins Marcy to share her transformative journey from physician to wellness advocate, beginning with the moment she fell off the "hedonic treadmill" of perpetual achievement. She dismantles the myth that we must choose between being extraordinary and caring for our well-being, arguing that ambition and wellness must coexist. Along the way, Dr. Shabbir shares ho...

What does true career success really look like? This week, host Marcy Bullock is in the guest seat for another episode of the Courage Corner where we dive deep into the invisible force that guides our biggest decisions: our values. Marcy explores how to pinpoint what truly energizes you, moving beyond abstract ideals and gets personal, sharing her own core values like growth, empathy, and responsi...

This week, Dr. Maria Mayorga joins Marcy to share her insights as an NC State professor and operations research expert, focusing on the realities of academia from unexpected PhD challenges to leading impactful work in colorectal cancer screening. After relocating mid-degree to continue her research,, Dr. Mayorga learned to navigate rejection with perspective. She shares how partnership shaped her...

In this special solo episode, Marcy kicks off a new mini-series called Courage Corner featuring bite-sized deep dives into essential career skills. Today’s focus: interviews. Whether you’re prepping for industry, academia, or anything in between, Marcy covers everything from crafting a standout elevator pitch and navigating different interview formats, to staying calm under pressure and making a m...

This week, Dr. Anita Vila joins Marcy to share her journey from NC State classrooms to leading healthcare innovation at Amazon and McKesson. With 15 years of building patient-focused tech, Dr. Vila gets real about the uncomfortable but necessary parts of growth: leaving academia without a safety net, spotting the difference between "this is hard" and "this is wrong," and the im...

Dr. Shana McDowell joins Marcy again this week to discuss the dreaded job search. Tune in to hear about those next steps after finishing your graduate program, tips and tricks in finding the right job for you, and how to strategize your time to maximize the efficiency in your job search. Learn how applying and preparing for jobs can be a full time job in itself and never forget that you’re not alo...

This week, Marcy is joined by Dr. Shana McDowell, who recently completed her PhD in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, for a candid conversation about navigating graduate school's challenging middle stages. Dr. McDowell shares insights on overcoming imposterism, celebrating small wins, and why soft skills matter just as much as technical expertise in STEM fields. From her pivot from teac...

This week, Marcy sits down with engineer, educator, and founder of STEMedia, Dr. Nehemiah Mabry, as he discusses his journey in the field of STEM. From his early days at NASA to building a company that bridges engineering and storytelling, Dr. Mabry shares how embracing both creativity and technical expertise shaped his path. He reflects on pivotal moments such as a national video contest that cap...

On this week’s episode, Marcy is joined by the first female professor of civil engineering at Duke University, Dr. Laura Dalton. Dr. Dalton shares her unconventional journey—from graphic design to groundbreaking research—and how adaptability, perseverance, and clear communication shaped her path. She opens up about balancing intense dedication with self-care, setting boundaries as both a mentor an...

This week, Dean Jim Pfaendtner joins Marcy to discuss the human side of academic leadership, from navigating self-doubt to building meaningful mentorship connections. They explore how rejection and setbacks can become growth fuel, why seeking help is a professional strength, and how to cultivate authentic support networks without formal "mentor" labels. Whether you're struggling with advisor relat...

This week, Dr. Meagan Kittle Autry (Dr. KA) joins Marcy to discuss the soft skills, or rather hard skills, that engineers need to thrive in the landscape of today. Join us as we discuss how communication, presentation, and understanding are fundamental to the work of all disciplines–including engineering. Dr. KA also shares how just a few easy changes can make your writing more clear and understan...

Join Marcy and Kelly Rownd, Director of Career Readiness at NC State’s Graduate School, as they tackle the realities of preparing to enter the world of industry and how unexpected conversations can reshape your trajectory and broaden your horizons. Learn how NC State’s Accelerate to Industry (A2I) program bridges the gap between academic research and diverse career paths and why networking doesn’t...

Today, Marcy and Dr Kara Peters dive deep into many of the problems that students, researchers, and even faculty face today. Dr. Peters reminds us that even when we struggle, support, communication, and understanding are vital--and that we're all human. Together, they explore what it means to navigate the uncertainty that comes with graduate research: questioning your own abilities, learning w...

In this episode, Marcy and Dr. Danny Smyl kick off with a 60-second elevator pitch before diving into the future of structural health monitoring. Dr. Smyl reveals how his military background honed a disciplined problem-solving mindset and shares key lessons that bridge research and practice. As an NC State alumnus, he highlights the university’s unique strengths and offers tips for students to max...

Join Marcy and Ken Gregory as they explore what it truly means to “leave it better than you found it.” Ken opens up about a major system failure he helped recover from and the resilience lessons it taught him. He reflects on the single piece of mentor advice that’s guided his career and reveals surprising insights he’s gained through reverse mentoring. Ken also walks us through his trusty career-n...

Join host Marcy and special guest Dr. Joel Ducoste as they explore the power of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for NC State engineering PhD students. In this episode, you’ll learn how IDPs boost career readiness and personal growth, discover the essential elements of a truly effective plan, and hear Dr. Ducoste’s tips for keeping your goals flexible without losing focus. Plus, find out how fa...