Your Words Unleashed
Your Words Unleashed is a podcast hosted by Dr. Leslie Wang, an author and writing coach. It is designed to help women scholars improve their writing habits and work toward publishing a meaningful book. The show offers coaching advice, strategies, and encouragement for academic women writers. It focuses on building sustainable writing practices and overcoming common writing challenges.
Episodes
Ep. 117 - AI and the Future of Scholarly Research (with Dr. Janet Salmons)
Send us Fan MailAI is changing academic writing in ways that are raising some big questions about academic honesty and what it means to be a scholar.In this episode, I talk with qualitative researcher and “free range scholar” Dr. Janet Salmons about how academic publishers are responding to generative AI and what their policies mean for researchers and writers. We dig into some of the gray areas a
Ep. 116 - Leaving Academia #11: Life Beyond Adjuncting (with Caitlin Luetger-Schlewitt)
Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you love teaching but can’t make a sustainable living as an adjunct?In this episode, I talk with Caitlin Luetger-Schlewitt about her winding career journey through higher education and beyond. After eight years of “full-time adjuncting” at three colleges while juggling multiple other jobs, Caitlin eventually decided it was time for a change.She shares how she move
Ep. 115 - Rethinking Leadership in Academia (with Dr. Jen Heemstra)
Send us Fan MailAcademic leadership often comes with a job description that says “professor” but a reality that says “manager, mentor, conflict resolver, and people leader.” The problem? Most academics receive very little training for that second job.In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jen Heemstra, Chair and Professor of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis and author of Lab Work to Leade
Ep. 114 - How to Write Stronger Conclusions (with Dr. Katherine Wiley)
Send us Fan MailWriting a conclusion can feel surprisingly difficult. By the time you reach the end of a book, you just want to be finished! But a conclusion is more than the final chapter—it's your opportunity to help readers understand what your work adds up to and why it matters.In this episode, I talk with developmental editor Dr. Katherine Wiley about what makes a strong conclusion and w
Ep. 113 - Scale Back Your Teaching Without Guilt! (Listener's Choice!)
Send us Fan MailFeeling the weight of the upcoming semester? You’re not alone. In this listener's choice episode, I explore why so many academics head into fall already exhausted—and how you can change that. I share a simple but powerful three-step approach to reduce your teaching load without sacrificing student learning. You’ll hear why it’s essential to put your own priorities at the cente
Ep. 112 - Bringing Personal Memoir into Academic Writing (with Dr. Georgiann Davis)
Send us Fan MailAcademic writing often asks us to keep ourselves out of the story. Memoir asks us to do the opposite.In this episode, I talk with sociologist and intersex scholar-activist Georgiann Davis about her new book, Five Star White Trash, a research-driven memoir that weaves together personal narrative and sociological analysis. We discuss what it means to write about deeply personal exper
Ep. 111 - The Financial Habits That Support Academic Careers (with Dr. Emily Roberts)
Send us Fan MailMany academics postpone thinking seriously about money until they have a "real job." But the habits and systems you build long before that point can have a significant impact on the choices available to you later.In this episode, I talk with Dr. Emily Roberts, founder of Personal Finance for PhDs, about the financial challenges that graduate students and postdocs often fa
Ep. 110 - Leaving Academia #10: Building a New Career in Public Policy (with Dr. Saher Selod)
Send us Fan MailMany academics reach a point where they start wondering whether they can continue doing this work in the same way for the rest of their career. But even when those questions start surfacing, leaving academia can still feel almost impossible to imagine.In this episode, I talk with my friend Dr. Saher Selod about her transition from tenured professor and department chair to Director
Ep. 109 - The Formula for Successful Writing
Send us Fan MailWhat helps some academic authors finish their books while others remain stuck for years? In this solo episode, Leslie explores the question she has been pondering throughout her coaching career: what truly creates writing success? Drawing on her experience working with hundreds of scholarly authors, she challenges common assumptions about productivity, motivation, and time manageme
Ep. 108 - Expert Strategies for Publicizing Your Book (with publicist Sarah Russo)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Russo, founder of Page One Media, to talk through how these campaigns work and how they differ from what presses are able to do on their own. We discuss what publicity actually involves, how it connects to marketing and sales, and why the timeline and goals for a campaign matter so much.We also talk about how to think about platforms in a more e
Ep. 107 - What Actually Helps Grad Students Succeed (with Dr. Yvette Martinez-Vu)
Send us Fan MailA lot of graduate students—especially those who are first-generation or come from underrepresented backgrounds—enter academia without really knowing how it works behind the scenes. So many expectations are unspoken and timelines can feel fuzzy. A lot of what shapes success is never clearly explained.In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Yvette Martinez-Vu, the founder of Grad Schoo
Ep. 106 - How to Turn a Journal Article Into a Book Chapter
Send us Fan MailTurning a published article into a book chapter can feel daunting—but it’s also one of the smartest ways to build momentum on your manuscript. In this episode, I walk you through how to repurpose your existing work without simply copying and pasting. You’ll learn how to rethink your article as part of a larger narrative, clarify its role in your book’s overall argument, and shift y
Ep. 105 - Leaving Academia #9: Craft a Powerful Career Story (with Dr. David Mendes)
Send us Fan MailMany PhDs who are considering careers beyond academia struggle with a simple question: how do you explain what you do to people outside your field?In this episode, I talk with David Mendes, host of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, about science communication, career transitions, and how PhDs can start telling clearer stories about their work and their skills. David shares how his o
Ep. 104 - How Higher Education Protects Democracy (with Dr. Alison Gash)
Send us Fan MailAs political attacks on colleges and universities accelerate across the United States, what’s happening in higher education is increasingly a warning sign for democracy itself.In this episode, Leslie speaks with Alison Gash, Professor and Department Head of Political Science at the University of Oregon, about coordinated efforts to undermine academic freedom—from curriculum bans an
Ep. 103 - Revitalize Your Purpose in Mid-Career
Send us Fan MailHave you achieved a lot in your academic career — but something still feels off? In this episode, I explore the identity shifts that often hit academics in mid-career, especially around getting tenure.Drawing on Arthur Brooks' provocative Atlantic essay on professional change, I unpack why purpose naturally evolves over time — and why that's nothing to fear. I talk about
Ep. 102 - What Every Educator Should Know About ADHD (with Karen Costa)
Send us Fan MailMany women in academia are diagnosed with ADHD later in life, often after years of burnout, shame, and being told they’re “just anxious” or “not organized enough.” In this episode, you’ll hear why that experience is so common, and why it has far more to do with systems than with personal failure.I talk with Karen Costa, author of An Educator’s Guide to ADHD, about what ADHD actuall
Ep. 101 - Leaving Academia #8: Find Career Clarity Beyond the Tenure Track (with Dr. Jen Polk)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Leslie sits down with Jennifer Polk, PhD—career coach, educator, and founder of From PhD to Life—to talk about what it really takes to leave academia and build a fulfilling career beyond the tenure track.Jen shares why the hardest part of career transition often isn’t strategy, but mindset: the stories academics tell themselves about stability, meaningful work, and
Ep. 100 - Make Your Writing Radically Inclusive
Send us Fan MailIn this milestone 100th episode of Your Words Unleashed, I reflect on my podcasting journey and share one of the most courageous pieces of writing I’ve ever published: “The Case for Radically Inclusive Writing.”After more than four years of podcasting—and major life and career transitions along the way—I look back on how using my voice consistently has shaped my values, my work, an
Ep. 99 - Book Publicity 101: What Scholarly Authors Need to Know (with publicist Amanda Ice)
Send us Fan MailMany academic authors have little sense of what happens once a book is finished, especially when it comes to publicity. In this episode, I talk with Amanda Ice, a senior publicist at Harvard University Press, about what happens behind the scenes once a book is finished and why so much of that work is invisible to authors.We walk through the publicity timeline, what authors can real
Ep. 98 - Confidently Transform Your Dissertation Into a Publishable Book (with Dr. Allison Van Deventer)
Send us Fan MailSupport the showCheck out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com!The three ways Leslie can help you with coaching & developmental editing:#1: Six-month Your Words Unleashed signature book writing coaching program. Through 8 hour-long sessions tailored to your own needs and goals, we will pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck. We’ll figure out personalized solutions and
Ep. 97 - Your Guide to Doing 10% Less in the New Year
Send us Fan MailAs another intense year in academia comes to a close, you might be feeling equal parts relieved and completely wiped out. In this episode, I’m reflecting on what 2025 looked like in my business and why I intentionally chose to do less—and felt better for it. Then I’ll walk you through a simple, low-pressure reflection that can help you figure out how to do just 10% less next semest
Ep. 96 - How to Write Prolifically (with Dr. Abbie Goldberg)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Leslie talks with Dr. Abbie E. Goldberg—Professor of Clinical Psychology at Clark University and a leading scholar on LGBTQ+ families—about writing, research, and staying motivated when academic life feels overwhelming. Abbie reflects on how she came to see research as a form of storytelling and why life transitions for more than two decades.They dive into the real
Ep. 95 - Caring for Aging Parents while Maintaining Your Career (with Dr. Katherine Lee)
Send us Fan MailIn this deeply moving conversation, Leslie talks with Dr. Katherine In-Young Lee, a higher ed coach and former tenured professor, about what happens when academic life and caregiving collide. After her father’s stroke, Katherine became a full-time caregiver for both her parents—a journey that reshaped her understanding of productivity and purpose. Together, they discuss the emotion
Ep. 94 - Leaving Academia #7: What You Only Learn AFTER You Leave
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Leslie explore the surprising perspectives people only gain after leaving academia. After three years outside higher ed, I’ve noticed unexpected shifts in my own habits, mindset, and relationships—so I asked thousands of former academics what changed for them once they left, too. Nearly 100 people responded, sharing candid reflections about work, health, identity,
Ep. 93 - Targeted Online? What Every Professor Needs to Know to Protect Themselves (with Dr. Heather Steffen)
Send us Fan MailWhat would you do if your inbox filled with threats, your home address was posted online, or your university launched an “investigation” after a viral tweet? In this episode, Dr. Heather Steffen, director of Faculty First Responders, joins Leslie to reveal how professors can protect themselves from doxxing, harassment, and politically motivated attacks.Dr. Steffen shares:The anatom
Ep. 92 - Become Your Own Developmental Editor (with Dr. Laura Portwood-Stacer)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Leslie welcomes back book publishing expert Dr. Laura Portwood-Stacer, author of The Book Proposal Book and the new release Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers. Laura shares her practical, step-by-step approach to developmental editing and how she helps authors create manuscripts that truly resonate with presses and rea
Ep. 91 - How to Keep Writing When You're Running on Empty
Send us Fan MailFeeling drained, scattered, or like your brain is running on fumes? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to give up on your writing. In this episode, Leslie shares what to do when your capacity is at rock bottom but you still want to keep your research alive.This episode includes strategies for protecting your mental space, rethinking what “counts” as writing, and tracking small win
Ep. 90 - Teaching with Courage in Polarized Times (with Dr. Brielle Harbin)
Send us Fan MailHow do you keep teaching with integrity when the ground beneath higher education is constantly shifting? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Brielle Harbin—political scientist, award-winning educator, and founder of Your Cooperative Colleague. Brielle helps scholars, especially women and nonbinary faculty of color, create values-aligned academic lives that resist burnout and grind cul
Ep. 89 - My Top 5 Writing Pet Peeves
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Your Words Unleashed, I’m getting back to basics—the kind of writing advice that makes the biggest difference for scholars who want their work to actually connect. Too often, academic writing gets stuck in old habits that make our ideas harder (and way less fun) to read.So today, I’m sharing my top writing pet peeves: the little quirks I see over and over that k
Ep. 88 - Leaving Academia #6: Starting a Successful Online Business (with Dr. Paulina Cossette)
Send us Fan MailSupport the showCheck out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com!The three ways Leslie can help you with coaching & developmental editing:#1: Six-month Your Words Unleashed signature book writing coaching program. Through 8 hour-long sessions tailored to your own needs and goals, we will pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck. We’ll figure out personalized solutions and
Ep. 87 - How to Scale Back on Teaching (without Guilt!)
Send us Fan MailFeeling the weight of the upcoming semester? You’re not alone. In this episode, I explore why so many academics head into fall already exhausted—and how you can change that. I share a simple but powerful three-step approach to reduce your teaching load without sacrificing student learning. You’ll hear why it’s essential to put your own priorities at the center of your semester plan
Ep. 86 - Behind the Scenes at a Top University Press (with Editor Alison Kalett)
Send us Fan MailAcquisitions editors, developmental editors, copy editors... How many different kinds of editors are there? What do they even do? And what are they looking for in a project?On this episode I chat with Alison Kalett, Editorial Director at Princeton University Press, where she supports a team of six science editors and acquires books in biology. She's been their science editor s
Ep. 85 - How Much Time Do You REALLY Need to Write?
Send us Fan MailHave you ever asked yourself, “How much time do I actually need to write in order to make progress?” If so, then this episode is for you. Whether you’ve been struggling to find time to write this summer or gearing up for the fall semester, you’ll find practical insights and compassionate advice to help you move forward. Leslie explores the pros and cons of popular strategies and g
Ep. 84 - Service Shaming in Academia & How to Fix It (with Dr. Cullen Merritt)
Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode, Dr. Cullen C. Merritt, Associate Professor and Research Director at the University of Maryland, joins me to unpack the often-overlooked issue of service shaming in academia. Drawing from his eye-opening op-ed in Inside Higher Ed, Cullen explains how universities publicly promote service as a core mission—yet internally discourage faculty from engaging in i
Ep. 83 - The Secrets to Creating a Viral TEDx Talk (with Dr. Jennifer Reich)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Leslie chats with Dr. Jennifer Reich—sociologist, author, and TEDx speaker whose talk has racked up over 1 million views! Jennifer shares the fascinating (and often misunderstood) reasons some parents choose not to vaccinate their kids—and what that reveals about trust, privilege, and how families navigate public health systems. She also opens up about her journey
Ep. 82 - A Better Way to Think About Summer Writing Goals
Send us Fan MailIn this re-released episode, I explore a radically different way to think about time and procrastination—one that offers more freedom, not less. Inspired by Oliver Burkeman’s book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, this episode dives into why most time management advice fails us, and what to do instead.You’ll learn how to “procrastinate better” by focusing on what tr
Ep. 81 - How to Plan a Sabbatical That Revitalizes Your Life and Career (with Dr. Bethany Wilinski)
Send us Fan MailFeeling burned out before your sabbatical even begins? Dr. Bethany Wilinski shares how to design a sabbatical that actually heals, restores, and reignites your passion for work. From mindset shifts to practical planning, learn how to make your time off truly transformative.You’ll learn:Why burnout changes what your sabbatical should look likeHow to shift from a productivity mindset
Ep. 80 - Design Your Dream Life in Three Simple Steps
Send us Fan MailIn Episode 80 of Your Words Unleashed, Leslie Wang walks you through one of her favorite tools for getting unstuck: a simple but powerful future self visualization. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or uncertain—about your career, your writing, or just life in general—this exercise can help you reconnect with what really matters.Leslie shares how imagining a single day in her life
Ep. 79 - What Academia Gets Wrong About Disability—And How to Fix It (with Dr. Stephanie Cawthon)
Send us Fan MailWhat if everything you thought you knew about disability… missed the point?In this deeply powerful episode, I’m joined by Dr. Stephanie Cawthon—educational psychologist, author, and founder of the National Disability Center for Student Success at UT Austin. Stephanie is a force of nature when it comes to challenging the status quo in higher ed and beyond.We dive into her personal j
Ep. 78 - Leaving Academia #5: Using Social Media to Build a Compelling Personal Brand (with Dr. Ashley Ruba)
Send us Fan MailAre you an academic thinking about leaving the ivory tower but unsure of your next step? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ashley Ruba, a developmental psychologist turned UX researcher, career coach, and founder of After Academia. Ashley shares her personal journey of leaving academia, the challenges she faced, and how she successfully transitioned into the industry.We dive de
Ep. 77 - Why Academics Hate Self-Promotion (But Need to Do It Anyway)
Send us Fan MailWhy do so many academics cringe at the thought of self-promotion? In this episode, I dive into why scholars struggle to share their work—and why keeping quiet isn’t neutral anymore.With higher education under attack and misinformation everywhere, I truly believe researchers have a moral obligation to make their insights accessible. But self-promotion doesn’t have to feel like bragg
Ep. 76 - How to Succeed in Academia without Sacrificing Your Well-Being (with Dr. Roxanne Donovan)
Send us Fan MailIs it possible for women of color and other marginalized faculty to be successful in the increasingly toxic culture of the academy? How do we survive without sacrificing personal wellness and well-being? In this episode, Dr. Roxanne Donovan and I explore these crucial questions and discuss some practical ways we can bring social justice values to our work as teachers, scholars, an
Ep. 75 - Calm Your Mind Now by Listening to the Body
Send us Fan MailFeeling overwhelmed and mentally exhausted? In this episode, I share how tuning into your body can quiet your mind and restore balance. You’ll learn two simple, powerful exercises to reconnect with your body’s wisdom.These practices are quick, easy, and don’t require any special equipment. If you’re ready to move from stress to clarity, this episode is for you. For more tips and th
Ep. 74 - Burnout vs. Overwhelm: How to Tell the Difference and Recover (with Dr. Brandy Simula)
Send us Fan MailFeeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin? You’re not alone! In this episode, I chat with Dr. Brandy Simula—executive coach, leadership expert, and former professor—about how to set boundaries, avoid burnout, and align your work with what really matters.Brandy shares her own journey from academia to coaching, the six biggest causes of burnout, and why “work-life balance” isn’t the
Ep. 73 - Why Risk-Taking Fuels Powerful Writing
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I open up about the power of taking risks in writing and why it’s essential for creating meaningful, lasting impact. A recent conversation with my mom inspired me to reflect on the importance of sharing personal and political perspectives—even when it feels scary or uncomfortable.I explore two big reasons why stepping outside your comfort zone can transform your wr
Ep. 72 - Budgeting for Success: Financial Planning for Academics (with Dr. Inga Timmerman)
Send us Fan MailWhy on earth have I invited a financial planner onto a podcast that is mostly focused on writing?It's because academics need more financial literacy and often don't know where to go for solid advice. I've seen many people take a head-in-the-sand approach to topics like money, loans, income, and retirement savings. This avoidance becomes especially pronounced in acade
Ep. 71 - What Went Right (and Wrong) In 2024? Your Year-End Reflection Guide
Send us Fan MailIn this final episode of 2024, I pause to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next. This episode focuses on the power of reflection through 10 thought-provoking questions that guide you to celebrate your successes, identify challenges, and set meaningful intentions for 2025. Whether you’re assessing professional wins, grappling with setbacks, or reconnecting with your valu
Ep. 70 - Becoming a Public Scholar: Making an Impact Beyond Academia (with Dr. Kevin R. McClure)
Send us Fan MailPublic scholarship is near and dear to my heart, which is why I’m super excited to welcome Dr. Kevin McClure as my guest in this episode.An expert on college leadership, management, and workplace culture especially at broad-access institutions, Kevin’s public scholarship covers a wide range of topics. His latest book, The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplac
Ep. 69 - The Most Important Mindset Shift Academics Can Make
Send us Fan MailThis episode dives into the single most transformative mindset shift that academics can make: moving away from a success/failure binary. We often get caught up in meeting others’ expectations and trying to adhere to narrow definitions of success in the academy. But what might be possible if you created your own definition of success that didn't rely on outcomes or performance?
Ep. 68 - Navigating the Challenges of Mid-Career (with Dr. Cathy Mazak)
Send us Fan MailOn today's episode I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Cathy Mazak, founder of Scholars Voice and host of the Academic Writing Amplified podcast, for an insightful conversation on the unique challenges that mid-career academics face. Cathy shares her expertise on how tenured scholars—particularly women and non-binary faculty—can redefine their goals and build meaningful support networ
Ep. 67 - Three Reasons You Need to Write More Simply
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I dive into why writing in plain language is a game-changer for academics. Instead of feeling pressured to use fancy jargon, imagine connecting with readers by simply saying what you mean. I share a client’s story that shows how clear writing can make research more engaging and powerful. You'll also get tips on figuring out who your audience is, avoiding the
Ep. 66 - Leaving Academia, Part 4: Grieving the Loss of Professional Identity (with Dr. Chinasa Elue)
Send us Fan MailWhen I left the academy roughly two years ago, I had many challenging emotions to navigate. I felt angry, sad, and afraid of what would come next in my life and new business. I was surprised by the depth of these emotions because I had been working diligently towards leaving my faculty position for several years. I also knew I wasn’t the only one.So, in this fourth installment of m
Ep. 65 - When (and Why) It's Okay to Quit Writing Your Book
Send us Fan MailHave you ever wanted to quit writing your book but felt intense shame and embarrassment about it? In today's episode, I tackle this rarely discussed, but crucial, topic. I share my own personal experiences of stepping back from a significant book project and talk about how the act of quitting can sometimes be the most positive, empowering choice you can make.I offer three key
Ep. 64 - Publishing with a Trade Press: Is It Right for You? (with Dr. OiYan Poon)
Send us Fan MailOne of the biggest dilemmas academic authors face, particularly when their topic has broad appeal, is the decision of whether or not to publish with a trade press. This is further complicated by how hard it is to find answers, as the trade publishing industry is a whole different ballgame from scholarly publishing.Luckily for you, my amazing guest in this episode, educator, author,
Ep. 63 - The Magic of Writing Retreats (with Dr. Michelle Boyd)
Send us Fan MailAre you an academic struggling with writing or feeling isolated in your scholarly journey?In this episode I welcome my friend and writing coach, Dr. Michelle Boyd, to talk about the magic of writing retreats. These retreats provide not only time and space but also a supportive community and practical skills that can transform your writing experience. Michelle is the founder and dir
Ep. 62 - How to Keep Writing During the Semester
Send us Fan MailAre you scared to death about how you're going to be able to get any writing done this fall? If so, join the club!In this episode I'm going to offer you some ideas to help you focus on your own research when you're juggling a million other responsibilities. I'll give you three surprisingly simple questions you can ask yourself to create useful writing strategies
Ep. 61 - Empowering Women of Color in Academia (with Dr. Katherine Lee)
Send us Fan MailAre you a woman of color in academia searching for strategies to help you thrive? What is some practical advice on handling department politics without jeopardizing your career? Look no further!In this episode, I talk with Dr. Katherine Lee, a Higher-Ed Coach, Career Strategist, and founder of Rise With Clarity. We talk about her journey from being a tenured professor to now coach
Ep. 60 - Turn Your Perfectionism Into a Superpower
Send us Fan MailDo you feel like perfectionism gets in the way of your happiness or achieving your goals? Perfectionism is usually seen as a big problem. What if, instead, it was actually a superpower? In this episode, I'm going to give you some ideas on how to do this, based on the book The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by therapist Katherine Morgan Schaf
Ep. 59 - What Acquisitions Editors Truly Want (with Jenny Gavacs)
Send us Fan MailWhat do acquisitions editors do at scholarly presses? What things make a book project stand out? When is the best time to contact presses and editors? Why is it incredibly useful to work with a developmental editor?In this episode, I welcome Jenny Gavacs, a developmental editor who specializes in sharpening arguments and improving the flow of academic books. We discuss all of these
Ep. 58: The REAL problem with imposter syndrome (with Dr. Angélica Gutiérrez)
Send us Fan MailIn this exciting episode of Your Words Unleashed, Leslie sits down with Dr. Angélica Gutiérrez, esteemed scholar and one of the world's best business professors under 40. Dr. Gutiérrez shares her fascinating journey through academia and her eye-opening research on imposter syndrome and impostorization--a term she coined that refers to how the environment makes certain people
Ep. 57: Four Mindset Shifts to Break Through Writer's Block
Send us Fan MailWriting a book is a daunting task, often exacerbated by our own negative thoughts and beliefs. But what if changing the way you think about writing is the key to getting unstuck? In today’s episode, I give four mindset shifts that can help you break through writer’s block. These simple but transformative mental reframes can turn a deeply stressful process into a more fulfilling, cr
Ep. 56: Essential Tips for Making Academia Easier (with Dr. Loleen Berdahl)
Send us Fan MailFinding the right balance between work and life in academia can be a never-ending struggle. That's why in this episode I'm chatting with accomplished professor and author of the popular Academia Made Easier online newsletter, Dr. Loleen Berdahl.Loleen has a wealth of knowledge about academic professional development. Her strategies for balancing work and life provide inva
Ep. 55: Three Steps to Heal from Burnout (Listener's Choice Episode)
Send us Fan MailAre you feeling completely exhausted and depleted at the end of this long school year? Join the club! If you're like most academics, you love what you do. The problem is that the work has become way TOO MUCH. Today I will re-air one of my most downloaded episodes. In it, I give 3 actionable steps to heal from burnout so that you can recuperate to the fullest this summer and re
Ep. 54: Mastering the Art of Writing a Crossover Book (with Dr. CJ Pascoe)
Send us Fan MailAcademia can sometimes feel like a world locked away in an ivory tower, but what happens when scholarly research breaks free and speaks to the heart of society? My guest in this interview, Dr. CJ Pascoe, does just that in her crossover books, Dude, You're a Fag and Nice is Not Enough.CJ is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Oregon whose research focuses o
Ep. 53: Five Ways to Avoid Taking Negative Feedback Personally
Send us Fan MailWhen you get negative feedback on your work, do you feel disappointed, hurt, and personally attacked?What if there was a way to avoid taking harsh critiques of your work personally?In today's episode, I'm going to give you five different ways to do this so you can keep moving forward without losing confidence in your work or your abilities. Support the showCheck out Lesli
Ep. 52: The Trick to Finding the Right Publisher (with Dr. Laura Portwood-Stacer)
Send us Fan MailDo you ever wish someone could just tell you exactly how to find the right publisher for your book? As academic writers, we sometimes tend to make things a lot more complicated than they need to be. In this first-ever guest episode of the podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Dr. Laura Portwood-Stacer, a developmental editor and publishing consultant. Laura and I di
Ep. 51: Leaving Academia, Part 3: What Keeps People Stuck
Send us Fan MailThis is the third installment of my series on leaving academia. I’m going to share five powerful, commonly accepted beliefs or assumptions that I think keep academics stuck in place. By stuck, I mean stuck in certain dysfunctional behavior patterns around work and/or stuck in difficult or toxic workplace situations. I’ll name them so you can start considering ways to free yoursel
Ep. 50 - Leaving Academia, Part 2: Question Your Beliefs
Send us Fan MailIf you’re struggling in your daily life, as many academics are, it’s imperative to take a deeper look at what you believe to be true about your situation. Once you know which underlying beliefs are operating, you can choose to reframe them or to take action to change things for the better. Therefore, today’s episode presents the top 4 beliefs scholars must question and unlearn if t
Ep. 49: Writing for Your Ideal Reader 101
Send us Fan MailWho is your ideal reader? It’s a tricky question for academics. Now that I’ve been a book coach for some time, I can tell you that the vast majority of authors never stop to think about who they are actually writing the book for. If you don’t know who this audience is, or if the default audience is Reviewer #2, then it completely shows through in your writing. In this episode, I s
Ep. 48: Four Ways to Stop Dreading Writing
Send us Fan MailDoes it feel like pulling teeth to get yourself to work on your book or an important article? Do you find yourself doing just about anything else to avoid writing? Internal resistance to writing is something that nearly every author feels at some point. It’s not a problem in and of itself. Where it gets to be a problem is when you realize months have gone by and you haven’t made an
Ep. 47 - Unlock the Wisdom of Your Future Self
Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of the new year, I help you connect with a version of your own future self who you can use as a source of wisdom and perspective.Support the showCheck out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com!The three ways Leslie can help you with coaching & developmental editing:#1: Six-month Your Words Unleashed signature book writing coaching program. Th
Ep. 46 - 5 Prompts to Reignite Your Writing
Send us Fan MailMany of the writers I work with started off with a bang in September and then their writing slowed down to a mere trickle or stopped altogether. It’s okay and, actually, to be expected given everything going on in the world and in peoples’ lives right now.For this episode, I wanted to give you something inspiring to reignite your desire to get back to writing, when you are ready. I
Ep. 45 - Leaving Academia, Part 1: Assess Your Situation
Send us Fan MailHi writers! I've been putting off talking about leaving academia for a long time now, but it can no longer wait. My clients are consistently asking for coaching on this, as are participants in my workshops. I decided to record this episode in the hopes of helping more people who may be trying to figure out how to navigate this really difficult career and life transition.Today
Ep. 44 - Tips for Overcoming Perfectionism
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is inspired by a recent breakthrough I had with one of my writing coaching clients. Incidentally, she’s an article writer and not a book writer, although it doesn't really matter for our purposes. But I want to talk about why you need to do less, both in actual practice, as well as on a mental level. In other words, I'm going to try to convince you wh
Ep. 43: Harness the Power of Storytelling
Send us Fan MailToday I’m going to talk about something that I believe is a really important part of good scholarly writing.And that is the power of storytelling.I'll discuss how you can harness the power of storytelling in your own writing, regardless of the subject matter. I’m also going to read a few pages from my first book to illustrate some of these points.And I’ll give you some tips f
Ep. 42: Moving Forward In Bleak Times
Send us Fan MailI don’t need to tell you how heavy things are feeling across the globe right now.Like most of you, I've been watching disaster unfold in Israel and Gaza from a privileged position of security and safety.In this era of the 24-hour news cycle and the ability to document and share our every movement in real-time, we’ve been flooded with images of human beings much like ourselves
Ep. 41: The Top 5 Book Proposal Mistakes to Avoid
Send us Fan MailThe scholarly book proposal is truly an art form that is very difficult to master. It's THE most important part of getting a book contract. And yet there’s so much conflicting information out there that it can be hard for people to write one in a way that truly puts their best foot forward.On today’s episode, I talk about the top 5 most common mistakes I see scholarly authors
Ep. 40: What Podcasting Has Taught Me About Writing
Send us Fan MailI've made it to my 40th episode! In fact, podcasting is not something I ever seriously considered before I created my coaching business less than two years ago. It blows me away that I’ve reached this milestone. So this week I want to share with you my reflections about podcasting and the four main lessons it has for YOUR scholarly writing projects.Support the showCheck out Le
Ep 39: How to Run a Book Manuscript Workshop
Send us Fan MailToday I’m going to go in-depth about one of the very best and most important things you can possibly do to improve your book. And this is to host a manuscript workshop! If you’ve never heard of these before, they’re like a best-kept secret in academia. These are essentially a half-or-full day event where you discuss a draft of your book with other experts in your field before you e
Ep. 38: What Kind of Procrastinator are You?
Send us Fan MailThis episode is focused on something that plagues many of us: procrastination! A lot of the guidance out there on dealing with procrastination is not that useful. This is because it often tends to put all procrastinators into one camp based solely on their avoidance of taking action in a timely way. They don’t address the varied reasons WHY people put things off. This episode descr
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