What happens when the demands of graduate school intersect with the realities of parenthood? In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Dr. Jenna Morton-Aiken, editors of the book Parenting While PhDing. Together, they explore what it means to navigate academic life while…
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Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes welcomes Kae Kronthaler-Williams — a senior tech marketing executive and author of Not Made for You— a powerful, practical guide for women navigating gender bias in male-dominated fields. With over 30 years of…
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Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! This week’s guest is Ashley Jablo – founder of Wayfinders Collective and creator of Life Design School – who brings powerful insights for anyone feeling lost, stuck, or regretful after finishing grad school or stepping away from academia. In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Ashley…
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What happens when a GPCR scientist steps out of the lab and into biotech leadership Dr. Yamina Berchiche’s career spans both sides of the bench — from decoding GPCR signaling in academia to launching a global platform for GPCR scientists and consultants. In this conversation, she shares how she used storytelling, networking, and scientific insight…
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What drives us to pursue a PhD—and what happens when that drive fades or fractures under pressure? In this candid and thought-provoking episode, David welcomes Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska – founder of The Scholars Mentor – to talk about the invisible struggles of doctoral life, especially for international PhD students. Drawing on her background in psychoanalysis…
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How do you go from studying the stars to helping others shine in their science communication? 🌟 In this inspiring conversation, astrophysicist, TV host, and TEDx speaker Arnaud Stiepen joins David Mendes to share how he built a bridge between research and the public through Nexus by Arnaud Stiepen — his platform for transforming complex…
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What if your next job wasn’t about status, but about passion? In this powerful episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, David sits down with George Appling—former McKinsey partner, telecom CEO, and now a self-described “passionpreneur.” George shares his journey from high-level executive roles to building a portfolio of ventures that light him up:…
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If your academic credentials are being met with confusion – or worse, silence – outside the ivory tower, it might be time for a branding reframe. In this episode, David Mendes speaks with Michael Dargie – international speaker, brand strategist, and author of Brandjitsu. Known for helping creative rebels go from “meh” to memorable, Michael…
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Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? For many graduate students, PhDs, and early-career professionals, time scarcity feels like the biggest obstacle to building a sustainable and fulfilling career. This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I talk with Michelle Niemeyer — speaker, coach, and former attorney…
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🎙️ From Burnout to Balance – Lexi Reid on Healing and Reinventing Your STEM Career What happens when the career you worked so hard for starts to affect your well-being? This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I speak with Lexi Reid, a former plant biologist and regulatory affairs specialist who transitioned into…
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