Grad School Confidential
Pulling back the curtain on grad student life.
- Update frequency
- every 183 days
- Average duration
- 21 minutes
- Episodes
- 10
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Thousands of people start graduate programs every year – and over time, many come to question their choice.
Is the program right for me? Do I have too much going on in my life? Should I keep pursuin…
Why Is Thesis-Writing So Damned Hard?
You sit down at the keyboard, ready to write up your research. But the harder you try, the worse you seem to feel.
Today we ask a vexing question: what makes thesis-writing so mentally and emotionally…
The Mother of All Episodes: On Parenting in Grad School
In this episode, two mothers tell us what it’s like to take on these daunting tasks at the same time. They share their feelings of guilt and recount moments of exhaustion.
When they do get the help t…
The Goldilocks Zone: On Balance in Grad School
People are always telling you to find work-life balance. It’s easy to say, but why is it so hard to do?
In this episode, we explore the struggle that every grad student experiences: trying to find th…
In the Shadow of Trauma
Grad school is challenging at the best of times. But students who have experienced past trauma may find it especially hard to cope.
In this episode, we speak with two students who embarked on PhD pro…
“Like an Empty Shell”: Living with Depression in Grad School
Depression is more than just a feeling: it’s a mood disorder that can have devastating effects on our thoughts and behaviour. And it can be hard to detect in a high-pressure environment like grad sch…
That Sinking Feeling: On Dealing with Criticism
Pointed critiques may come with the territory in academic life, but that doesn't make them any easier to hear.
Join us for a conversation with Hayley and Jenna — recent PhD graduates (and successful a…
Hitting the Wall: On Burnout in Grad School
Feeling spent, exhausted, over-extended? If so, you’re not alone. Grad students trying to balance the demands of life with new academic challenges often find themselves contending with burnout.
Join u…
Scholars in a Dangerous Time: Loneliness, Isolation and COVID-19
Grad studies are a lonely task at the best of times. Throw in a pandemic that keeps us away from friends and loved ones, and the days can be harder to navigate.
Join us for a conversation with Leah a…
"Who Am I to Talk About Impostor Syndrome?"
Does it sometimes feel like other grad students have it all together in the classroom and in the lab...while you don't have a clue what you're doing?
You're not alone.
Many grad students grapple with…