Stupid Genius PhD Podcast

Do you want to know more about the strike action that took place throughout universities across the UK? Well, Emily and Mollie are joined by the amazing Dr Bee Hughes, who, as a longstanding University College Union member and activist, has answers to all of our union-related questions! In this episode, they discuss who University College Union are and what their mission is, what the key issues ar...

Join Mollie and Emily as they dive into the world of academic CVs and share tips on how to make yours stand out from the crowd. From the basics of structuring your CV to when and how is best to start the process, this episode will help you showcase your achievements and advance your academic career. Whatever stage of the PhD you are at, it is never too early to start crafting the perfect CV so, tu...

Join us for a heartwarming Valentine's Day special as Emily and Mollie celebrate the unsung heroes behind every PhD journey: their loved ones. In this episode of Stupid Genius, they explore the profound impact that supportive partners, family members, and friends have on our lives as we navigate the challenges of academia. Through heartfelt stories, relatable anecdotes, and insights, they shine a...

Failure is coming your way whether you like it or not. But the Stupid Geniuses are here to explain why we shouldn't shy away from failure. In this episode, inspired by the work of Professor Joe Moran, Emily and Mollie chat about concepts such as "cruel optimism" and discuss why the academic experience particularly, promotes failure. They discuss how as PhD students, academics and simply as human b...

Being ghosted by your PhD supervisor is no joke and is way more common than you might think. But what to do when your supervisor gives you the cold shoulder? On this week's episode of Stupid Genius Emily and Mollie discuss when to know you're being ghosted, how receiving radio silence from your supervisor can affect both you and your project, and they discuss some practical tips for how you might...

As academics, hosting a podcast is a great way to demonstrate impact and to disseminate your and others' research. But how do you go about it? This is the question Emily and Mollie answer in this week's episode as they discuss the practicalities of creating a podcast. They consider what one year of Stupid Genius has taught them about podcasting and about themselves and they discuss their favourite...

Trying to get back into your PhD work after a few merry weeks off, while facing the greyness of a gloomy January, is difficult at the best of times. But you are not alone! Join the Stupid Geniuses as they discuss what the "post-holiday blues" means, why lots of people experience them, and how to spot the signs. They also discuss ways to try to tackle this feeling and they outline what we can all d...

Stupid Genius are back discussing all things the New Year and resolutions. They chat about the difference between setting New Year’s resolutions and setting goals and they share some of their own past and present ambitions. Emily and Mollie challenge each other on what should be left behind in 2023 and they share some of the listeners 2024 ‘ins’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Are you ready to unwrap the truth behind our festive fun? In this thought-provoking episode of Stupid Genius, Emily and Mollie delve into the world of consumerism at Christmas. From its humble origins to the present day, they explore the grip consumerism holds on Christmas. The Stupid Geniuses discuss the impact of the rise of commerce and consumerism at Christmas on society and the environment. T...

That's right, the holidays are coming - even for PhD students! Join Emily and Mollie on this festive episode as they discuss all things Christmas! Think Christmas traditions, favourite festive films, the best Christmas foods and embarrassing Christmas stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The winter break can provide a brilliant opportunity to recharge your academic batteries. However, winding down and taking a break isn’t always easy as a PhD student or Early Career Researcher. In this episode, Emily and Mollie chat about some of the challenges that you might face when taking a break over Christmas, and they discuss useful strategies that you can use to effectively prepare for the...

This week Emily and Mollie delve into the ways excessive screen time can hinder productivity and mental health for PhD students. They open up about their own struggles with striking the balance between mobile phone use and productivity, while also providing strategies and insights for maintaining a healthy balance. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge and practical tips for navigating the digital er...

This week Emily and Mollie are joined by the amazing Chiedza Ikpeh. Chiedza is the Director of the RARA (Real and Authentic Representations of Africans and Caribbeans) Education Project and she is also an EDI Consultant, and Multi-Academy Trustee. Chiedza is also a Doctoral Researcher and she is doing amazing research around the barriers to career advancement faced by marginalised Black women in s...

Join the Stupid Geniuses in this hilarious episode as they chat about the benefits of laughter and explore why we all need to crank up the chuckles in our lives. Listen as Emily and Mollie discuss how we can all laugh more and they take part in some on-air laughing yoga. Prepare for contagious giggles as they uncover how laughter boosts mental and physical health and makes life oh-so-much brighter...

Academia is a world often riddled with obstacles, and navigating conflicts with your supervisors or team can feel like walking a tightrope. Join Emily and Mollie as they discuss strategies for handling conflicts from practicing empathy and taking a growth mindset to prioritising clear communication. But what do they know? Whether you're a PhD student or a professional interested in navigating conf...

One half of Stupid Genius is officially a doctor! Tune in to this episode for an unfiltered and uncensored account of what it’s really like to sit a PhD VIVA. Expect far too much information and a big dollop of unprofessionalism as Emily and Mollie share some handy tips that might just help you to pass your VIVA. But what do they know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Mollie are getting spooky with some PhD horror stories. Join the Stupid Geniuses for a Halloween special of murderous PhD students, creepy participants, and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode the Stupid Geniuses are joined by researcher, dwarfism activist and all around amazing woman, Dr Erin Pritchard, for a frank and revealing discussion of dwarfism and dwarfism awareness. As a woman with dwarfism, Dr Pritchard shares some of the significant challenges and barriers faced by individuals living with dwarfism, from navigating inaccessible environments to combating harmfu...

The VIVA is the most important milestone in the PhD journey and so it's crucial you are fully prepared for everything it throws your way. In this episode, Emily and Mollie share some brilliant tips on how to ace your PhD viva preparations. From selecting and getting familiar with your examiners to taking a break from your thesis, from sitting your mock VIVA to ensuring you get into the right minds...

Get ready to journey into the world of PhD supervision as Emily and Mollie explore what PhD supervisors wish their students knew. In this episode, the Stupid Geniuses hear from experienced PhD supervisors who reveal their secret challenges and what really motivates them to supervise doctoral students. Listen as these senior academics disclose some of their supervising joys, frustrations and pet pe...

In this episode, Emily and Mollie dive into the world of academic fashion, exploring how to craft your personal style as a PhD student. Emily and Mollie share insights into their own academic wardrobes and offer practical advice on how to dress for success. They chat about balancing comfort and professionalism in your day-to-day PhD life and they give guidance on how to style yourself in meetings,...

Doing a PhD is tough on your mental health and there might be points when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom. The sheer size and extent of the project means that your mental health is likely to experience highs and lows at different points of the PhD. Emily and Mollie discuss which aspects of the PhD have challenged their mental health. They chat through ways of identifying when your mental heal...

Growing your network is a must when you're a PhD student. Having senior academics in your network can be a real career boost and can lead to potential collaborations and co-authorship opportunities, mentoring relationships, the chance to receive constructive feedback, and it can lead to future job opportunities. On this episode of Stupid Genius, Emily and Mollie discuss how to meet and approach se...

Recruiting and managing your participants might just be one of the most important things you do during your PhD and yet, it doesn't come without its difficulties. On this week's episode, Emily and Mollie discuss how to find participants for your study, how to gain and maintain access, and the importance of being mindful of your participants' needs. They also chat about confidentiality, being expli...

Doing a PhD can often mean moving to a new city, finding a new place to live, and making that place a home. Emily and Mollie discuss how to get the most out of your living situation as a PhD student and they share thoughts on what you might want to avoid. The Stupid Geniuses share their own experiences of flat sharing with dodgy housemates, navigating temporary homelessness, securing a mortgage as...