The podcast that pulls back the curtain on academia's most elusive milestone: tenure. Each episode, we sit down with tenured professors, early-career scholars, and academic insiders to unpack the strategies, setbacks, and secrets behind earning tenure. From publishing and politics to mentorship and mental health, we explore what it really takes to thrive in higher ed, and how to do it without burning out. Whether you're a grad student, postdoc, or junior faculty member, this show is your roadmap to the tenure track.
In this episode, student assistant and podcast editor Sebi reflects on the experience of balancing student life, creative work, and career goals while helping shape the podcast behind the scenes. From editing episodes to collaborating closely with faculty, she discusses what it was like to learn through hands-on work outside the classroom and how the project deepened her understanding of academia, mentorship, and meaningful work as a graduating student.
4 Mar 2026
Prescription to post-tenure malaise: a perspective from an ER doctor
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jeffrey Michael Beckett, an emergency medical physician at the Dallas Department of Veteran’s Affairs Hospital and Methodist Dallas Medical Center to compare careers in medicine and academia. The conversation explores the extensive training, high-stakes responsibility, respect, compensation, autonomy, and work–life challenges shared by both fields. Dr. Beckett also reflects on rising burnout and early exits in each field, emphasizing that time and autonomy are among the most valuable, and often overlooked forms of compensation.
16 Dec 2025
Pathway to Administration
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Meghna Sabharwal, Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management and Associate Provost for Faculty Success at UT Dallas, about her pathway to administration, from her early years as a faculty member to becoming one of the few women in senior academic leadership at a major R1 university. Dr. Sabharwal discusses how her research in public administration informs her leadership style, and how she balances institutional responsibilities with teaching, research, and family life. She also offers practical advice for faculty and graduate students considering administrative roles and reimagining the possibilities of an academic career.
23 Nov 2025
Leaving Tenure
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Darcie Vandergrift, an award-winning sociology professor who transitioned from academia to regional government work as a qualitative researcher. Seven years into her new role, she reflects on how the work, schedule, and compensation compare, and what her journey reveals about the growing trend of leaving academia.
28 Oct 2025
The Success Sabbatical
This episode features an interview with Dr. Bethany Wilinski, an associate professor at Michigan State and a sabbatical coach. Dr. Wilinksi discusses her experience planning her sabbatical and how sabbaticals can help build sustainable and fulfilling careers.
16 May 2025
Post Tenure- What Keeps You Going?
Professor Brian DeMare shares his experiences post-tenure, including maintaining work-life balance and finding joy in working with students, in an interview about academic career progression.
16 May 2025
The International Academic
Assistant Professor Gilbert Zhe Chen discusses achieving tenure at Towson University as an international scholar, balancing teaching, research, and service while navigating the green card process in this interview.
16 May 2025
The Nontraditional Scholar
Dr. Annie Gray Fisher discusses her unconventional journey into academia, balancing work and life, and the significance of faculty governance in this interview.
16 May 2025
Personal Finance in Academia
Dr. Mai Wang shares her strategies for financial independence, navigating the tenure review process, and balancing research, teaching, and family as an early-career professor in an interview.
16 May 2025
The Tenure Process
Assistant Professor Dan Du recounts her tenure process at a large public university, highlighting strategies for balancing research, teaching, and service, in this interview.
Who has been a guest on Tenure: A Game Manual
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Brian DeMare
Gilbert Zhe Chen
Dr Annie Gray Fisher
Dr Mai Wang
Dan Du
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
113
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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