Kat Phillips & Thomas Rintoul

Unstable Fluid Podcast

Science EN ↓ 11 episodes

A mathematician and an astrophysicist walk into a bar... Join Kat and Thomas from the Sci-Comm Collective as they break down (and break down) physics, maths, and their experiences navigating academia.

Author

Kat Phillips & Thomas Rintoul

Category

Science

Podcast website

rss.com

Latest episode

Dec 9, 2025

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Episodes

11: That's Not What Quantum Means! 09.12.2025

In this episode, Thomas and Kat are joined by Meagan Hough, a final year PhD student at the University of Bristol working in Quantum Physics. They discuss Meagan's journey to academia, their experiences being neurodivergent in academia, and their recently published Physics World article. Meagan's Article in Physics World: https://physicsworld.com/a/unique-minds-why-accommodating-neurodivergent-sci...

10: Why is space sticky? 28.10.2025

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss viscosity - essentially, how fluids stick to themselves - and how some of them behave very strangely! Ooblek on the space station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDLNsLqS3vE Video Version: https://youtu.be/jIx3-5Qjkew ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Email: unstablefluidpodcast@gmail.com Join Thomas' Discord to...

9: Brain go brrr.... 16.08.2025

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss managing your time and mental health as a PhD student or academic. They discuss their own challenges and how they've tried to overcome these. In this episode, we discuss Spoon Theory and how we and others have found it useful for describing how our brains function and interact with the academic environment. We want to acknowledge the origin of Spoon Theory i...

8: Why is Space Flat!? 01.07.2025

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss the many objects in space which appear to be flat and the why and how of this very common phenomenon seen in planets, solar systems, black holes and entire galaxies! Video Version: https://youtu.be/eWI91pwRGxM ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Email: unstablefluidpodcas...

7: Find yourself a designated extrovert 24.03.2025

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss networking as an early career researcher and how to handle those early conferences when you know no one. Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlRets66VX4 ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Email: unstablefluidpodcast@gmail.com Join Thomas' Discord to discuss th...

6: Space Out! 24.10.2024

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss some actual science exploring density and diffusion on human scales and on slightly more astronomical scales too! Video Version: https://youtu.be/TRSG-KhzSCg ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Email: unstablefluidpodcast@gmail.com Join Thomas' Discord to discuss the Podc...

5: We're not dead! 12.09.2024

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss travelling as academics, and Kat has some big news! Video Version: https://youtu.be/vlGzztnJt5o ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Email: unstablefluidpodcast@gmail.com Join Thomas' Discord to discuss the Podcast: https://discord.gg/fzTFrhH8vY ~~ See our hosts elsewhere...

4: Reading and Writing? In STEM subjects!? 13.03.2024

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss academic reading and writing, how to find and read papers, and share their opinions on writing and the writing style of other academics. Video Version: https://youtu.be/cVzo-AWFlM0 ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Email: unstablefluidpodcast@gmail.com Join Thomas' Disc...

3: PhD Your Way to Success 08.02.2024

In this episode, Thomas and Kat discuss applying and interviewing for PhDs, then actually talk about fluids! Video Version: https://youtu.be/ChMlbLczrLs ~~Chapters~~ 00:00 - Intro and Hosts have a catch up 06:17 - PhD Interviews 26:55 - PhD Applications 38:35 - FLUIDS!!! ~~ Follow our socials ~~ Instagram: https://instagram.com/UnstableFluidPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UnstableFluid Emai...

2: Ready, Set, Code 30.11.2023

In this episode, Thomas and Kat have a catch up after launching the pilot last episode, talk about starting out on a PhD and discuss the use of computer code in academia.

1: Pilot 13.09.2023

Welcome to the Unstable Fluid Podcast - brought to you by The Sci Comm Collective (TSCC). In this pilot episode, Thomas and Kat discuss who they are, the research they do, how universities prepare their students and their journies into PhD study.

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