Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur: The Private Podcast

About Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur: The Private Podcast

Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur: The Private Podcast is a behind-the-scenes audio series for academics who are ready to explore life beyond the ivory tower. Whether you're burned out, underpaid, or simply craving more freedom, this private podcast shares honest conversations, practical strategies, and real stories from former academics who’ve built flexible, fulfilling businesses as editors, coaches, and consultants. If you're wondering what's possible—and how to get there—this series will show you the path forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Paulina Cossette

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Apr 2025

Latest episode

29 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Apr 2025

   Thank you for joining me on this journey

   A quick episode to thank you for joining me on this journey. If you're ready to launch an academic editing or coaching business go to: https://acadiaediting.com/editingfreedom_postlaunch I'm rooting for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   29 Apr 2025

   How a Tenured Professor Left Academia and Built a Booked-Out Editing Business... in Just 2 Months

   If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s really possible to leave academia and make a living as a freelance editor, you need to hear this week’s episode of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor. My guest, Meg Toth, was a tenured professor who walked away from her academic career, joined my program, Becoming an Academic Editor, and built a successful editing business in just a few months. In this episode, she shares: ✨ The moment she knew she had to leave academia; ✨ How she found paying clients—without social media marketing; ✨ The biggest mistakes new editors make (and how to avoid them!); and ✨ How to make yourself indispensable so the clients keep coming back. If you’re thinking about becoming an academic editor (or want to grow your existing business), you won’t want to miss this one! 0:00 - Starting Your Editing Journey 1:19 - Navigating Academic Changes 3:16 - Making the Decision to Leave Academia 8:39 - Discovering Your Passion for Editing 10:50 - Finding the Right Course for Skill Development 12:47 - Learning to Market Yourself Effectively 15:06 - Building Your Editing Business 19:24 - Establishing Trust and Credibility Online 21:01 - Balancing Academic and Creative Projects 25:02 - Offering Flexible Coaching Services 27:32 - Gaining Practical Experience with Copy Editing 30:11 - Connecting with Clients Through Your Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   29 Apr 2025

   5 Tips to Help You GTFO of Academia

   This week is a good one, folks. I've got 5 tips to help you GTFO of academia. 😲 We're living in strange and dangerous times. Life is enough to deal with in a normal week, and now the US government and higher ed are crumbling around us. 🔥 If you're extra burned-out these days, you are not alone. I'm active in the Facebook group Academics Say Goodbye, and I was asked by the admin to write a featured post sharing my story of leaving academia and advice for anyone who's considering doing the same. The post got great feedback, so I decided to share it as a podcast episode. If you want to hear my full story of leaving academia, head back to episode 1 of the podcast. But in this episode, I give you the brief version along with 5 honest, unfiltered tips on how you can change the way you think about leaving your academic post--and make the move if you decide that's right for you. Keep fighting to put out this growing dumpster fire, but also be sure to take care of yourselves and be with your loved ones. 💝 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   29 Apr 2025

   5 Must-Have Tools to Edit Faster and Earn More Money

   Once you’ve started professional editing, how can you maximize your time and earn as much money as possible? 🧐 Let’s get one thing straight: there is NO shame in wanting to earn more money. Especially given your skills and the value you provide to your clients, academic editors should feel confident charging rates that equate to $100 per hour… or more! One of the best ways to reach this goal is to bill your projects using a per-word rate. This is because, as you improve your editing skills and increase your editing speed, this raises your effective hourly rate. 📈 In this week’s podcast episode, I’m sharing 5 tools (all but 1 are free!) that can help you increase your editing speed, reduce your time at your computer, and increase your earnings. This is definitely an episode you’ll want to check out on YouTube at some point because I share my screen and walk you through how to use each tool. Don’t be intimidated; you can do this! 💪 Links from the episode: Clockify: https://clockify.me/ BeefText: https://beeftext.org/ (https://beeftext.org/) Mac alternatives to BeefText: https://alternativeto.net/software/beeftext/?license=free&platform=mac PerfectIt: https://intelligentediting.com/buy-now/ 0:00 - Why Track Your Editing Speed 1:57 - How Charging Per Word Benefits You 2:59 - Understanding Effective Hourly Rate 3:42 - Tracking Your Time with Clockify 4:54 - Setting Up Projects in Clockify 6:08 - Analyzing Your Time Data 9:42 - Using Auto Text in Microsoft Word 10:33 - Setting Up Auto Text Shortcuts 13:47 - Introducing Beef Text for Windows 14:52 - Creating Snippets in Beef Text 17:13 - Utilizing Perfect It for Editing Checks 20:47 - Getting Started with Macros 23:07 - Recording Your First Macro 26:36 - Recap of Editing Speed Tools Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   29 Apr 2025

   4 Steps to Get Started with Academic Editing NOW

   If you’re unhappy in academia, you may be dreading facing down another 15 weeks–let alone another whole YEAR–of dealing with administrators, AI, and burnout in general. In this episode, I give you four easy steps you can take to dip your toes in the waters of editing and coaching to see if they feel right for you. 🏊♀️ You’ll find out: 🧐 one simple step to get your name in front of grad students who need help editing their dissertation 🧐 how to land your first freelance editing jobs and try them out with just a few hours a week 🧐 how to discreetly spruce up your LinkedIn profile and connect with scholars who need an editor 🧐 why you should start finding clients through your existing academic network I also share insights on translating your existing academic experience into an editing context and the importance of taking small, manageable steps toward building this new career or side hustle. Don’t wait until you're completely burnt out, or when you’re already committed to teach another semester, to decide that you don’t want to go back. 😭 And DEFINITELY don’t put yourself through another year of misery because you feel obligated or you’re scared to take the leap. Links mentioned in the episode: The companies below are just examples. My mention of them is not an endorsement. Scribendi: https://www.scribendi.com/jobs (https://www.scribendi.com/jobs) Edanz: https://freelancers.edanz.com/course/index.php?categoryid=3 (https://freelancers.edanz.com/course/index.php?categoryid=3) Editage (now owned by Cactus): https://jobs.cactusglobal.com/jobs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   29 Apr 2025

   How Do Clients Find Me? My 2024 Year in Review

   This week I summarize my 2024 by sharing all the juicy stats on: 🎯 the number of clients I've worked with, 🎯 the projects I've completed, and 🎯 the top strategies I used to attract a steady stream of clients and start earning $10k per month. I also discuss my website traffic, email list growth, total 2024 earnings, and what's on deck for 2025. Above all, I am so incredibly grateful that you have joined my little corner of the internet. I've received so many kind messages from people who are struggling in academia and who have found solace in hearing my story. 🙏 Always remember that you're not alone. I'm just a DM or an email away, and I'm always happy to talk. Links in this episode: Catie Phares, the Savvy Editrix: https://www.csphares.com/the-savvy-editrix Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   29 Apr 2025

   Escaping Adjunct Hell and Rekindling Your Passions

   In this episode, Ana Hartman shares her journey from the precarious position of adjunct faculty to the more flexible and rewarding career of freelance academic editor. We discuss the challenges she faced as an instructor, the strategies that helped her overcome her anxiety about starting a new business, and how editing has allowed her to rediscover her passion for writing. Key takeaways from this episode: - The importance of networking and building relationships: Ana emphasizes the value of connecting with other academic editors and finding a supportive community. - Leveraging your existing skills: Your academic expertise can be a valuable asset in your editing career. Focus on your strengths and tailor your services accordingly. - Overcoming fear and self-doubt: Ana shares her personal experience with overcoming anxiety and building confidence as a freelance editor. Whether you're an adjunct faculty member looking for a change or you're just starting to explore the world of freelance editing and coaching, this episode offers insights and support to help you find your way. Learn how Ana is turning her academic writing and editing skills into a successful and rewarding business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   29 Apr 2025

   How Blogging Can Attract Clients

   In this episode, I give some key pointers on how blogging regularly can help improve your SEO (search engine optimization), demonstrate your value to potential clients, and get you noticed... so you have a steady stream of client inquiries–and income–headed your way for years to come. Questions I answer: What should academic editors write about in their blog posts? How can editors increase the visibility of their articles? How and where should you share your blogs about academic editing on social media? How you can "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" and market your valuable services to academic clients who need your help. What questions do you have about becoming an editor or coach? I'd love to answer them. Email me at paulina@acadiaediting.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   29 Apr 2025

   Breaking Out of Academia and Finding Your Joy

   In this episode, one of the members of my first group coaching cohort, Niki Tulk, PhD, PhD, MFA, joins me to discuss the transition from academia to editing. Niki has such a fabulous sense of humor, so this episode will make you LOL (and there's a guest appearance by her rescue dog, Lily!). But she also gets to the heart of the problems with academia--and how this affects so many of us emotionally, and even physically. From day 1 of our cohort, Niki hit the ground running and fully embraced her new life as an academic editor. She immediately was hired by an editing agency and has now edited dozens of documents for them! Other important points from this interview: - How your experience as a faculty member or scholar helps you intuitively provide feedback to other scholars as an editor - What it's like to complete those first freelance editing jobs - How the framework of the Becoming an Academic Editor course and the personalized feedback eliminate the guesswork and help you stay on track in successfully building this new business - When you leave academia, you no longer have to squeeze yourself into the restrictive box of other people's expectations--you can be free to float on a cloud of your own design (it makes sense when we talk about it! 😁) If you've been struggling in academia and you feel like you're alone in these challenges, this is the episode for you. You are NOT alone, and our community is here to support you--whether you want to start editing/coaching as a side hustle or you're ready to kiss toxic academia goodbye and edit full time. 😘 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    29 Apr 2025

    How do freelance academic editors make money?

    In this episode I discuss the different ways of setting your editing rates and how much you can earn as a freelance academic editor--per hour and in terms of annual income. Some of the most common questions I get from faculty who are considering editing deal, understandably, with how much money they can earn, whether or not it would be enough to replace their faculty salary, and if there’s enough work out there to make a sustainable living as an editor. Without being able to make specific predictions about you or your situation, I can confidently say that, YES, I and many other academic editors out there do earn a great living as freelancers, and I consistently have more inquiries for work than I can take on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    29 Apr 2025

    Overcoming Academic Burnout and Finding Fulfillment

    Dr. Julia Galindo is a former faculty member in the Harvard Writing Program who has helped countless students navigate the challenges of college-level writing. She’s also a trained executive function coach and specializes in helping writers break down overwhelming tasks or break through the blocks that are keeping them from writing. Prior to becoming a coach, she taught the popular course: The Psychology of Success and Failure. In addition to having taught writing, Julia also brings over five years of experience tutoring students at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Writing Center and her work as an editor on the Harvard Educational Review. In this episode, we dive into Julia's journey from academia to entrepreneurship. She shares her insights on the burnout she experienced as faculty, the liberating process of leaving academia, and the skills she's leveraged to build a freelance editing business. We also explore the importance of finding a balance between coaching clients and dedicating time to solo work (good for introverts or HSPs, highly sensitive people, like Julia and me), and Julia's passion for helping students overcome the obstacles they face in their academic pursuits. So, if you're struggling with burnout in academia, or you’re an aspiring academic editor, I hope this conversation will help show you that you don’t have to stay where you’re unhappy, and you can indeed find joy by applying your academic training as a freelance editor. ------ HELPFUL LINKS: Julia's website: juliagalindocoaching.com Elaine Aron's website and books on HSPs: https://hsperson.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

12. 

    29 Apr 2025

    Is Freelancing Right for Me?

    When you’ve been working as an educator for years and you’ve always pictured yourself as having a secure, salaried position, the thought of freelancing or owning your own business can be daunting. In this episode, I’ll break down what it really means to be a freelance academic editor and offer some tips to help you decide whether or not this path is right for you. We’ll discuss the skills you need to be a strong editor, and some pros and cons of making the shift to freelancing. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Microsoft Word course "Essential Skills for Academic Editors": https://acadiaediting.thinkific.com/courses/editingskills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

13. 

    29 Apr 2025

    What Does an Academic Editor Do?

    In this episode I discuss what exactly an academic editor is, the different types of editing, and where freelance editors work. When I was still in academia, I had no idea what a copy editor was or that they worked with scholars to improve their writing and chances of publication. In fact, it wasn’t until I published a book with Routledge and I worked with a freelance copy editor employed by the press that I learned this could even be a career option. If you’re a strong writer–and the type of person who’s considering becoming an editor yourself–then it makes sense for you to be unfamiliar with academic editing–because you’ve never needed to hire an editor! In a future episode, we’ll discuss working with private clients–the faculty and grad students who hire editors to help them re-work their journal articles, book manuscripts, and even job market materials to help them get published or land a job. But today I’ll give you a broad overview of what I call the “academic editing landscape”: the different types of editing you can do and the companies and organizations that hire academic editors. Many of the terms I’ll use today are commonplace in the professional editing world, but you probably haven’t heard of or used them before, especially if you’re new to editing. Not to worry; I’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for my brief introduction to academic editing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

14. 

    29 Apr 2025

    Leaving Academia: Paulina's Story

    This first episode of the private podcast offers an introduction to me, how I left academia, and how I became and academic editor. I share my story so that you know you’re not alone. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 7 / 100

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

Quality

14

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0