Academia is slow to change. There's those of us who shake it up, force it to change or even decide to leave and poke it from the outside!
Change does happen but it's a challenge.
When I was a professor, I would write blogs, engage in public outreach that involved I'm A Scientist Get Me Out Of Here, cocktail evenings with science, and other silly ways to get people the knowledge I was producing. I also made experiments fun by bringing VR to prisons and schools. And I brought Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, to psychology conferences!
These creative endeavors and inclusive practices are often not valued as are high-impact publications and large-scale grants.
There are many other ways we are misfits, however. Many are simply due to who we are - queer, BIPOC, etc.
So, I've been called to create a podcast called Academic Misfits, honoring those of us who have gone rogue or have rebelled in our own ways.
A Poet Works Wonders — Websites for Academics With Jennifer Van Alstyne
A poet-turned-academic-website-designer shares how poetry, one-on-one connection, and trusting her own direction led her out of academia’s constraints and into helping academics tell their story online. We also discuss busting myths about industry jobs and policy impact along the way. Join the Patreon Links for Jennifer: Social Media Links
15 May 2026
Cut the Crap: Academia’s Tenure Trap with Catrina Mitchum
Our guest is Catrina Mitchum, PhD, Founder of CM Learning Design. We discuss all the issues around tenure, being mobile constantly in academia, and the reality of trying to fit into the system. We explore finding what will be valued outside of academia, marketing skills and all the SH*T courses that exploit PhDs and their… Read More »Cut the Crap: Academia’s Tenure Trap with Catrina Mitchum
24 Feb 2026
Relationships Are Easier Outside of Academia with Dr Jennifer Beech
Finding ways to succeed were the key takeaways from speaking with Jennifer. She is an English PhD but has a knack from systems and tech, which has meant an ability to both support students with entering university but also speak to the nuances of Animal Farm (it’s actually not nuanced and is pretty in your… Read More »Relationships Are Easier Outside of Academia with Dr Jennifer Beech
5 Jan 2026
“Should I Quit Academia to Become a Nun?” The Power of Discernment in Decisions With Liz Angeli
On the Academic Misfits podcast this week, we’re engaging in a deep, practical, and spiritual exploration of discernment – the spiritual basis of making aligned, conscious decisions. My guest is Liz Angeli, a woman of profound insight who bridges academia, spirituality and business enterprise. She is Founder of Lumin Living, a spiritual director, and an Associate Professor of… Read More »“Should I Quit Academia to Become a Nun?” The Power of Discernment in Decisions With Liz Angeli
11 Aug 2025
Can Academia Support Political Activism? With Chantelle Lunt
Chantelle is a multi-talented (common thing for us people with ADHD!) woman who has founded political movements, served as a police officer, created community action projects across the UK, and is completing her PhD in criminology while serving as Labour Councillor and Mayor of Halewood. She shares her journey and her perspective on academia as… Read More »Can Academia Support Political Activism? With Chantelle Lunt
16 Jul 2025
Let’s Get Political With Camilla Hansen
Camilla joins me to talk about academia and politics being 2 peas in a pod – politics right now may be in just as much shambles as academia. And like people’s perception of science, experts, etc, there is a lack of trust in politicians. Check out the song lyrics that Camilla referred to – It’s… Read More »Let’s Get Political With Camilla Hansen
2 May 2025
Adding the Woo to Academia with Dr Marie Gasper-Hulvat
Dr. Marie and I explore how Human Design became the compass that helped her become a better teacher, understand decoloniality, find peace after a lifetime of cyclical burnouts and learn to help others as a Chaos Recovery Supporter. 1. Join us in the Academia+Woo FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/academiapluswoo 2. Run your Human Design chart on my website:… Read More »Adding the Woo to Academia with Dr Marie Gasper-Hulvat
7 Apr 2025
Leaving Industry *AND* Academia with Dr Michele Veldsman
Michele Veldsman, founder of Playroom, discusses her journey from academia to biotech to CEO and tech founder. You’ll love this episode if you’re considering transitioning out of academia into consultancy, industry, or starting your own enterprise, as Michele shares actionable insights which she’s shared on social media platforms. This conversation is gold for the “how… Read More »Leaving Industry *AND* Academia with Dr Michele Veldsman
11 Mar 2025
Bringing Edu-Punk to Academia with Si Poole
Grab the new Academic Misfits book here: https://www.routledge.com/Academic-Misfits-Questioned-Belongings-in-Higher-Education/Hoppe-Siegert-Temiz-Hasselgren-Seifan/p/book/9781032482217 In this Academic Misfits episode, we discuss belonging and pedagogy from the perspective of folkloric traditions, the meaning of education, and how we cultivate a love of learning free from the neoliberal marketisation of education. A pedagogy of care and process over product were concepts Si introduced.… Read More »Bringing Edu-Punk to Academia with Si Poole
12 Feb 2025
Can Academics Change the World? with Kim Williams
This was a shooting the 5h!t kind of episode, with Kim Williams – Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies talking about her subject area getting the only pass in academia to be a raging advocate without shouting from those on the other side to be objective in their scientific pursuit. We talk about how all… Read More »Can Academics Change the World? with Kim Williams
14 Jan 2025
Academics as Activists with Dr Georgiana Turculet
Dr Georgiana Turculet shares her journey as an academic activist, using her Marie Curie fellowship to expose toxic practices in academia through her film, Academic Puszi.
9 Dec 2024
Leaving Academia Like a Runaway Bride with Wedding Celebrant Dr Claire Lawrence
Dr Claire Lawrence shares her journey from academia to wedding celebrant, revealing how her skills can be translated to non-traditional careers and achieving a better work-life balance.
12 Nov 2024
Solo Mothers by Choice with Dr Christie Margrave
Christie and I speak about the challenges of parenthood in academia, the child penalty for researchers, and conferencing when you don’t have another parent figure . Here’s the link to the article I talked about https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2024/10/29/what-makes-the-child-penalty-in-academia-different/ We also applaud Meryl Streep. See more here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/golden-globes-meryl-streep-lactating-762988/ If you’re looking to leave academia, you may want to… Read More »Solo Mothers by Choice with Dr Christie Margrave
23 Oct 2024
Burnout Pushed Me Out of Academia with Dr Nicole Janz
Dr Nicole shares her experience of not realizing she was a misfit in several ways and how burnout brought her to the realization that she was indeed an academic misfit. She also shares her publication journey and how to get started if you want to be an author. Get her free course: http://startyourbookin5days.com/ Buy the… Read More »Burnout Pushed Me Out of Academia with Dr Nicole Janz
7 Oct 2024
Is Versatility a Bad Thing in Academia? With Dr Miriam Ricci
Did you catch it in the episode: I’m running a 5-day workshop to Jump-Start Your Academic Escape – https://luna.myflodesk.com In this episode, Miriam talks about her journey into academia, the mid-career struggles she faced, and the mindset shift required to thrive in a new context. She talks about how she reclaimed academic concepts, challenging patriarchal… Read More »Is Versatility a Bad Thing in Academia? With Dr Miriam Ricci
23 Sept 2024
From Scientist to Hypnotist with Dr Paulina Trevena
Paulina Trevena and I discuss the life of a #researcher in #academia particularly when you add #ADHD, childcare and being an immigrant. Paulina’s journey to hypnotherapy and to using her research skills again but in relation to aphantasia is very intriguing and shows that not all journeys are linear. And it goes to show we… Read More »From Scientist to Hypnotist with Dr Paulina Trevena
31 Aug 2024
An Academic Meeting Spurred a Chocolate Biz with Dr Sonia Tucci
An insufferable staff meeting inspired a side-gig
15 Aug 2024
A PhD Doesn’t Have to be a Creativity Sap with Dr Nai Kim
Dr Nai (Nayoung) Kim talks about being a misfit in #academia in many ways… mostly in its requirement of a written doctoral thesis for… an English (literature) major! How very dare academia! ;) We also talk about our mutual need for creativity, the realities of ocean crossing and Nai’s label of Ms Strawberry! Find Nai… Read More »A PhD Doesn’t Have to be a Creativity Sap with Dr Nai Kim
30 Jul 2024
Defying Expectations and Following My Passion Out of Academia with Dr Gina Petonito
Gina Petonito – Founder of Writing Your Way and Academic Women Reclaim Your Power – talked about how her writing passion has opened doors, raised her visibility on social media and given her a ready made community to advertise to. This is information she’s rarely shared before! It may have made her an academic misfit… Read More »Defying Expectations and Following My Passion Out of Academia with Dr Gina Petonito
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