Episodes
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In today’s episode, I explore the idea of shifting from viewing our jobs and careers as linear paths or defined identities to seeing them as part of a larger body of work that we have freedom to build and shape in whatever direction we want throughout our lives. I also get curious about how this body of work question might apply more broadly to who we are in the world, as we build our "body of being" for how we want to show up and experience our daily lives.
Centering Around Building a Body of Work vs. Professional Identity: What if we consider our work as projects within a larger body of work, instead of feeling tied to roles as part of our identity?Viewing Job Positions as Projects: What happens if we stop viewing our job positions as fulfilling a particular role and instead see them as projects that contribute to our evolving body of work? This creates space for objectivity and subjectivity—giving us permission to decide whether what we're doing aligns with our values and to make changes if it doesn’t.Body of Being: Expanding the idea even further, I play with the notion of a Body of Being—how we show up each day and how we live our lives as part of who we are becoming. It's less about long-term identities and more about how we choose to embody our values and desires in the present moment.
Key Points:
How would viewing your career as a body of work change your perspective on your current role? What would be different if you approached your career or personal life with this perspective?Could this shift in thinking give you more permission to change, adapt, and grow?
Reflection Questions:
Join the Conversation:
I'd love to hear how the "body of work" or "body of being" concept resonates for you! Share your thoughts or experiences by sending a message below.
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Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! Share this episode with anyone you know who might enjoy exploring how to trust who we are now and how to become more of ourselves.
Connect:
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Summary:
"Let it be easy" as a mantra: How to use this four-word phrase to change your approach to tasks that feel daunting.The challenge for high achievers: How success and productivity can sometimes lead to the internal belief that something needs to be hard or complicated to be valuable.The power of tiny steps: Breaking tasks down into the smallest, easiest steps can reduce overwhelm and build momentum.The role of fun and alignment: How giving yourself permission to make things fun and natural can reduce the forceful energy often associated with hard work.Noticing resistance: A simple practice of observing the thoughts and beliefs that create resistance can help shift your mindset.
In this episode, we dive into a mindset shift that can make a big difference when tackling tasks that feel overwhelming or hard to start. Even when we're excited and inspired by new projects and ambitions on the horizon, that excitement can often come with a sense of being overwhelmed. The focus today is on the simple yet powerful mantra: Let it be easy.
Today, I share some personal insights, discussing how this simple phrase has helped manage feelings of resistance when starting new projects. For those who are high achievers or tend to overcomplicate things, this episode offers practical tips on how to shift into ease and flow, breaking tasks down into manageable tiny steps and allowing for more fun in the process.
Key Takeaways:Discussion Questions:
How can you apply the phrase "let it be easy" to your own tasks or projects?What is the absolute smallest, tiniest step you can take today to move forward on something you’ve been avoiding?Have you ever noticed how your internal beliefs about what’s "valuable" or "worthwhile" might be making things harder than they need to be?
Join the Conversation:
I'd love to hear how "letting it be easy" works for you! Share your thoughts or experiences by sending a message below.
Subscribe & Follow:
Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! Share this episode with anyone you know who might benefit from learning how to let things be a little easier.
Connect:
Instagram: @shirleymarkantSend us a text
Support the show
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Episodes manquant?
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Summary: In this quick and fun episode, Shirley shares a surprising moment from her day that brought a little dose of joy. She dives into how this unexpected sight led to some deeper thoughts: What if we all embraced being different and brought a little joy into places we don’t quite fit? Why not be the unexpected in a world full of conformity?
Shirley’s unexpected source of joy.The metaphor: Why can’t we be the "tomato plants" in our lives, bringing something real and different where it’s not expected?Letting go of fitting in and embracing our unique selves.How we can change the overwhelming structures of the world by bringing in small elements of our nature and humanity
Key Points:Takeaway: Today, give yourself permission to bring something unexpected and joyful into the world just by being your unique self.
Also Mentioned:
Dr. Tererai Trent - check out her story and work
Thanks for tuning in!
Connect:
Instagram: @shirleymarkant (See the tomato plant pic!)Send us a text
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Episode Summary: Hey everyone! After a year-long break, I’m back, and the podcast is taking a new direction. Originally, this show was all about helping scientists who were thinking about leaving academic research, but life changes, and so have my interests. Now, I want to talk about something a bit broader – how we often feel like we're not measuring up to expectations that were set by someone else: jobs, family, society – you name it.
In this episode, I talk a little bit about the direction the podcast is heading in to address how to be more of ourselves in the face of all of life’s expectations.
Key Points:
Life happens, priorities shift – and that’s okay.
A lot of us are struggling to meet expectations that aren’t even ours.
Why do we stick to norms that make us feel terrible? Time to rethink that.
What’s Next: I’m still figuring out the details, but I’d love to bring in some guests eventually and maybe build a little community around these conversations. No promises yet on regular episodes – I’m going with the flow here.
Thanks for Listening! I’m excited to be back, and I’m looking forward to chatting more about all the new stuff I’ve been exploring. Let’s see where this goes together!
Connect:
Follow Shirley on InstagramSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this season, we're digging into exploring how to figure out what we really want, which can be a challenge for so many of us. Today, I'm sharing my perspective on why what we want matters as well as my recent experience with an exercise that investigates what we want our ideal world to look like. And how defining this for ourselves as individuals can help center around our values and inform daily life and big picture decision-making.
Mentioned in this episode:
Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler
Thank you for listening!
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If this podcast resonates with you, I invite you to explore the Sequel to a PhD website (www.sequeltoaphd.com), because there’s a lot evolving over there, too!
Also, I’m currently accepting applications for 1:1 coaching with me for late Fall 2023. Please reach out for more information.Send us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast for the start of Season Two!
I’m excited to be back with you! Today, I’m returning to orient around the question we often have for ourselves of “What do I really want?”. You would think that this question of would be easy to answer, but I think it can be REALLY hard for so many of us, for so many reasons. We know we want something different, but we can’t quite identify what to move towards. Today, I'm sharing some thoughts around how micro-moments in our lives can help us explore and learn to trust that inner voice that can set the course towards answering this question.
Thank you for listening!
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If this podcast resonates with you, I invite you to explore the Sequel to a PhD website (www.sequeltoaphd.com), because there’s a lot evolving over there, too!
Also, I’m currently accepting applications for 1:1 coaching with me for Fall 2023. Please reach out for more information.Send us a text
Support the show
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Welcome back to the podcast!
Today, I'm talking about how the question of "what can I take out of my life?" can help us focus on living our values, as well as how this relates to my personal approach to the summer. I also talk about my plans for the podcast for this summer, and the experiment of "just being".
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).
Or contact me directly if you are interested in some one-on-one personal coaching - offering first session free for a limited time.You can also check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I talk about my perspective on how overwhelm from the numerous components that require our attention when making big changes in our careers can contribute to that scary feeling that happens when we approach change. I also talk about a few approaches to address these various components and remember that we have the agency to decide how we want to feel as we move through change.
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this slightly nostalgic episode, I look back on my favorite role in bench science at a start-up pharmaceutical company! (And some slightly comical and absurd moments in the role I held prior to the start-up company job...) This episode also addresses how remembering our past experiences can help us identify our values and what brings us fulfillment in our work. By reflecting on what we loved about past jobs or projects, we can intentionally bring more of those elements into our current work or new opportunities that align with what's important to us now.
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I'm delighted to chat with Dr. Kristine Averill, who shares her inspiring story of transitioning from a successful 15-year academic career in Plant and Crop Sciences to become a passionate Somatic Mindfulness Coach. Raised on an apple farm, Kristine developed a deep connection to nature, which led her to pursue a PhD in Ecology. Despite her achievements, she felt a longing for something more fulfilling. In stepping out of academia, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery through yoga, meditation, and coaching. Today, through somatic mindfulness and inquiry, Kristine helps people who feel trapped in uncertainty or frustration to manage anxiety and burnout and to gain clarity about their purpose so they can create the impact they want while doing what they love.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:01:35 - Becoming Interested in Plant and Crop Sciences
00:05:01 - Moving Away from Academia
00:08:43 - Developing a Coaching Business
00:12:16 - Staying Curious and Experimenting
00:16:50 - The Importance of Following Your Passion
00:18:43 - The Rewards of Coaching and Yoga
00:21:02 - Encouraging Curiosity
00:24:05 - Trust Yourself
I found her story to be incredibly inspiring, brimming with profound insights and valuable guidance!To learn more about Kristine, visit https://www.kristineaverill.com/
To access her free Regulate Your Nervous System training, visit https://www.kristineaverill.com/free-training
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, we talk about REST. Giving ourselves permission to rest (which can be a challenge due to our conditioning, particularly coming from academia), dissociating rest from an expectation for it to feel good or to be fully replenishing in whatever timeframe we've allotted for it, and why allowing ourselves to stop thinking and problem-solving can be a necessary component of rest. We talk about how the space created by rest is so important to create meaning and ultimately enable us to show up as who we want to be in the world.
Thank you for listening!
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I enjoyed chatting with Dr. Sierra Simpson, a PhD scientist with a background in investigating the connections between the microbiome and addiction. Sierra shares her story of how she moved away from preclinical bench research into more clinically-oriented roles as the Associate Director of Perioperative Informatics in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSD as well as founder of BrilliantBiome, a company centered around using information about your personal microbiome to inform health decisions. She shares some of her experiences around becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business (during her PhD, even!), and I was intrigued to hear how she is now navigating dual paths between her roles in academia and her company, BrilliantBiome. In addition, Sierra shares great perspective and tips for people wanting to move away from bench research into roles with more clinical applications. We talk about the importance of following our individual unique interests and values as we navigate career decisions and how we are allowed to do what's most fulfilling for us.To learn more about BrilliantBiome, visit https://www.brilliantbiome.com/ or find Dr. Simpson on LinkedIn!
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I explore how thinking about the impact of our work can help guide our decision-making as well as hold us back when we're feeling nudged towards making changes. We talk about possible ways to consider impact beyond measurable outcomes that contribute to solving the world's big problems. We also talk about how releasing attachment to impact outcomes might be really important when exploring, playing/learning, and following your curiosity towards something new, and how maybe it's okay to let the potential impact become more obvious down the road a little bit. We are all impacting the world around us every day, regardless of the path we choose.
Thank you for listening!
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, we explore the relationship between allowing ourselves to dream (i.e., imagining our wild and outrageous ideal) and becoming even more of ourselves. We go through a few factors relevant to scientists and academics that may constrain our willingness to dream. And talk about one approach to expand our dreaming capacity and get closer to understanding what we really want. In my opinion, this understanding is an essential component in testing the hypothesis that we can achieve greater impact in the world by becoming more of ourselves.
Thank you for listening!
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I share a previously recorded episode that I almost deleted because I felt it wasn't perfect, until I remembered that sharing even the incomplete, imperfect ideas is part of how we co-create, relate, and learn from each other. We talk about how starting something new often involves moving through some icky, sticky steps and a reminder that it's totally normal to face this ick as part of the process of change toward something even better.
Thank you for listening!
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I talk about some thoughts-in-progress that have been on my mind recently around the connection between moving out of our comfort zones and the question of "how do I want this to feel" while moving toward the next big goal. We talk about how the steps along the way don't have to be extra hard or a huge challenge to overcome in order to "count" as progress and growth. I share my current perspective (which admittedly, might change in the future!), in which I'm finding it empowering to embrace a series of small steps and gentle expansion of my comfort zone boundaries as the mechanism toward big goals and change. And how this all connects to the concept of becoming even more of yourself.
Thank you for listening!
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
The origins of her interest in ecology and conservation and how momentum shaped aspects of her career path. The role that recognizing her desired impact for her work played in making recent career decisions. The totally relatable worry of disappointing people around her by deciding to leave academia, and allowing space to focus on the question of "what's really important to me?" Thinking about career moves (and life) as a constant process of experimenting and calibrating. And recognizing that we don't have to have it all figured out right now. Reminders that we don't have to do it all ourselves, and that what we are doing is enough.
In this episode, I'm delighted to chat with Dr. Emily Dangremond, a PhD ecologist with an interest in plants, climate change, and conservation. After earning her PhD from UC Berkeley, doing a postdoc at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and becoming an assistant professor at Roosevelt University, she recently left that role to work at a community-centered wildlife conservation company. Dr. Dangremond is also the host of "Kids Questions Answered", where she answers science questions posed by her son, and she has developed a scientific writing guide to help people overcome obstacles they encounter in scientific writing.
In this fun conversation, we talk about:And lots of other excellent nuggets in this great conversation!
To learn more about Emily, visit https://emilydangremond.weebly.com/ or find her on Instagram @drdangerscience.
To find her scientific writing guide, visit Dr. Danger's Guide to Scientific Writing.
Or check out her podcast Kid's Questions Answered!
Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Send us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, I share a new project that I've been working on and what has been holding me back from letting people know about it. We talk about how this situation relates to testing the hypothesis that we can achieve impact in the world by showing up imperfectly, experimenting, and co-creating. It doesn't have to be a perfectly polished, perfectly packaged thing to make a difference and/or to learn something, and we don't always have to have everything figured out before we start.
Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).Thank you for listening!
Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
In this episode, we talk about what it means to get quiet and how giving ourselves permission to expect nothing of ourselves frees up the space to allow insight and new ideas in. I share my mini-story of how I approached getting myself out of a little recent slump and how this approach can be useful in the context of bigger life or career decision-making.Thank you for listening!
Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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Welcome back to the podcast!
Why it can feel like failure when the original goal (or the path to achieving our goals) no longer feels right. How any goal actually has an infinite number of successful outcomes. Looking at how our stories have evolved vs. achieving a particular outcome. Changing goals as a reflection of sophistication in our thinking and our experiences.
In this episode, we talk about:Thank you for listening!
Want to connect directly with me? Find me on Instagram and send me a message!
Check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com
Rate and review the podcast: The Sequel to a PhD PodcastSend us a text
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