The Backstage Academic

Have you ever wondered what is means to be a great writer? Well wonder no longer. In this episode we tackle a whole host of topics from; the biggest challenges for writers, the importance of including you in your work, key difference between fiction and non fiction writing, growing author diversity and bringing lived experienced into your work, how to overcome writers block, the importance of why...

This time we are peering into the world of cultic groups and thought reforms ideologies of all kinds, with sociologist Janja's Lalich and her amazing book 'TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships. Learn all about the techniques of cult leaders, fascinating case studies and the complex reasons victims stay for so long. You can find her book here: https://www.amazon.co.u...

This time we are exploring the surprisingly sociological book, The Mighty Dead: Why Homer Matters . As usual we cover a lot of ground, from poetry, writing style, oral history, to the urban and the rural, the origins of violence/gangs. There even some reflections around masculinity and intimacy in war.

Join me and my co host Saiqa as we explore the wonderful world of language and accents for this fascinating book review 'Your All Talk: why we are what we speak'. We discuss class, identity, inequality, prejudice around accents, history of speech, and share plenty of our personal experiences on the subject. In the second part of the episode I am also joined by Rob Drummond himself (author)...

Myself and Saiqa delve into the world of time management and the broader societal obsession with ever greater productivity and efficiency. We review Oliver's great book Four Thousand Weeks, Time Management or Mortals - packed full of useful tips on how to regain control of our stressful busy lives.

In this thought provoking review I am joined by my comrade in arms Saiqa Butt, a performing poet and fiction writer. We delve into Sam Keen's classic - a personal journey into masculinity, where he explores notions of male potency, strength, insecurity, personal development, violence and their relationship to women. There is so much here, we touched on war, class, sexual assault, folk lore/mytholo...

Professor Steve Miles is a sociologist at Manchester Metropolitan University based in the Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre (PAHC). His area of expertise is in consumption and he is the Head of Faculty Research Degrees here at MMU. Steve completed his PhD in 1996 from the University of Huddersfield - his thesis is titled 'You just wear what you want don't yer'? An empirical examination of th...

County Lines is a form of criminal activity that utilises/exploits vulnerable people such as children, to create networks for the supply of illegal substances. The vulnerable individuals are exploited by gangs in a range of ways, from illegal transport, storing substances at their residences and even used in the selling itself. We are joined by Gary Stratton D/Insp County Lines Investigation, INV...

Conducting research in the field can be one of the most ethically fraught experiences of your career (maybe even life), and this can become even more salient if you are working with populations that are in some ways marginal and/or vulnerable. This episode should be especially useful to PhD students/early year researchers who are about to enter the field and would like to know about some of the et...

'The Last of Us' games were hugely successful, offering one of the most immersive and terrifying gaming experiences to date for many a nerd (myself included). The recent release of the televised adaptation starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey has proven equally as successful and warrants a deep dive. Joined by my usual co-host Andrea, as we do an exploration of the series, covering the e...

Myself and fellow sociologist Richard Remelie discuss an event we attended from the esteemed AC Grayling, one of the most eminent philosophers and authors in the realm of atheism (although he writes on a range of other subjects too). We analysis/review Graylings arguments for atheism and cover a wide range of ideas he covers in his lecture, e.g. his thoughts on inductive and deductive reasoning, u...

Joined again by my co-host and fellow bookworm Andrea to review another fascinating book. This time we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of pleasure and pain. Why do we seek it? What are the types? What connection exists between pain and our sense of life purpose? What explains our fascination with suffering in fiction? This episode is filled with insights that will not only help you und...

I am joined this week by PhD researcher Adam Aderman, a doctoral student at Manchester Metropolitan University - located in the history department. There is considerable buzz now around adopting so called 'trauma informed' approaches, from prison spaces, work environments, to even our social polices. Issues of our mental health have never been more open to discussion, however it remains one of the...

In a change to our normal programming I, your host, is interviewed by Kim on her new Podcast the Accessible Academic (link below) about my own research. Kim is a Senior Lecturer of Health and Social Justice in the Department of Nursing at MMU. For those that don't know I look into the intersection between homelessness and gender and how radically different your experience can be because of it. Kim...

This time I am joined by recent Manchester Metropolitan University PhD graduate Simon Armour, who is the Mental Health and Wellbeing programme manager at Stockport Council. In this episode we explore his PGR research into the effect that volunteering has upon well-being, for those that give up their time to serve in challenging environments such as food banks and homelessness provisions etc. We've...

Denis Rader aka ‘BTK’ (bind, torture, kill) was one of America’s more prolific serial killers, leaving a path of murder and destruction decades long. Join me and my co host Andrea Nicklin as we review Kerri Rawson’s book, which is the daughters biographical account of growing up with a serial killer. We discuss the family history/dynamics, early signs of pathology, role that religion plays, some o...

In this episode I virtually sit down with Darren McGarvey to do a deep dive on his new book The Social Distance Between Us: How Remote Politics Wrecked Britain . In one of my favourite conversations to date we explore all the nuances of class. Darren is already an Orwell prize winning bestselling author, due to his last publication Poverty Safari , as well being a columnist and film maker for the...

In this episode I am Joined by Richard Remelie, a PhD researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, who is based in the department of education. How you ever wondered why some people are motivated to climb mountains, while others are only motivated to watch others climb mountains? - Well wonder no longer. In this episode Richard talks to us about his amazing research into understanding relatio...

In this episode co-host Andrea and I are reviewing a recent event we attended, The P sychology of Serial Killers . The event blog is below, please enjoy. Apologies for the sound quality though, Andrea's laptop decided to end it's own life prior to recording this episode.  "A fascinating event by forensics lecturer Jennifer Rees to explore one of Forensic Psychology’s most troubling topics. Du...

Prevent is one of four limbs of the government’s anti-terrorism policy. It is directed at behaviours and ideas that the government deems to be extreme and to represent a possible ‘gateway’ to violent offences. The Prevent duty applies in schools, colleges and universities and many other public spaces. It professes to safeguard individuals and funnel those at risk to programmes/interventions of de-...

Coming (virtually) from the states Alaina (a cognitive scientist in decision making by trade) drops in to talk to us about her new book ' What I Wish I knew: A field Guide For Thriving in Graduate Studies '. In this episode we discuss the trials and tribulations of academic life, how to succeed, how to explain what you do to non-academics, how to apply your skills outside of the academic world if...

Does our society discriminate against those who are single? Are spaces, ideals and social norms only catered towards the monogamous couple? We talk about the difficulties of online dating, the unintended consequences of making the private sphere, public, and the problems men and women face when trying to find intimacy and connection in this new technological frontier. We even deconstruct Love Isla...

Have you ever wondered the historical roots of masculinity, and what impact warfare has had on our human identity and development? Well look no further! Join myself and Jonathan Harper (a fellow PhD researcher specialising in WW2) as we review Leo Braudy's book, as he takes us through an epic historical, sociological and literary journey. A full review would of have been impossible but we covered...

Joined this time by Sahanika Ratnayake a scholar and postdoc at the University of Vienna, after recently getting her PhD from Cambridge University. A philosopher by trade (though she hates being called one) Sahanika has spent her academic career getting to grips with the underlying mechanisms of psychotherapy, asking all the important and at times uncomfortable questions about the how and why they...

Reviewing the literary god that is Stephen Fry, I am assisted once again by my fellow bookworm Andrea Nicklin as we deconstruct this new telling of the Greek classic - from Fry's writing style, portrayal of the Gods, to the role of women in this traditional epic, prepare for a crash course in all things ancient.