Academic Aunties

About Academic Aunties

Academia. It is a site of exclusion. For those of us who are first-generation, who are racialized, who are women, and who inhabit social locations that are traditionally unrepresented in this space, academia is full of landmines. This is why we need academic aunties. This podcast will bring you stories and advice about how to navigate this treacherous world and maybe even plant the seeds for structural transformation. Come listen to Auntie Ethel and her friends. Episodes drop monthly. Message us on Twitter at @AcademicAuntie and visit us online at academicaunties.com.

Publisher

Ethel Tungohan

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

18 Mar 2021

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 96 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Do our jobs still matter?

   Academic Aunties Dr. Debra Thompson and Dr. Yolande Bouka discuss the relevance of academic work amidst institutional challenges and societal pressures.

2. 

   2 Jul 2026

   Academic Ate (Season finale)

   Dr. Dani Magsumbol and Tka Pinnock discuss the PhD journey, community, and mentorship in this interview episode.

3. 

   18 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   DEI Undone

   Academic Aunties interview Dr. Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui and Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad about the challenges and potential rebirth of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Inside a recent episode

Do our jobs still matter?

Published 30 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I mean, why are we Why are we still here? I mean, why are we not like reading RF Kuang for fun and just having like book chats and like, I don't know, like painting and boxing? The first reason is I got a mortgage to pay and three kids to put through school. So that's the real answer. Because if you gave me a choice today, I would just go read my books. I read books. I'm a voracious reader. And it does not help that I read a lot of dystopian and sci-fi. Anybody who knows me knows that this is a problem. I live in a good space opera or a good dystopian will win every time. And it's a form of escapism, but it's also because I find that Good sci-fi writers, not just any sci-fi, I'm very picky. […]

Who has been a guest on Academic Aunties

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Debra Thompson
• Yolande Bouka
• Dani Magsumbol
• Tka Pinnock
• Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

2,777

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

24 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

43 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

91

YouTube

68

Engagement

85