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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Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Jillian Rilley – founder, writer, keynote speaker, and consultant whose decades of work focus on helping people navigate change and accelerate learning, especially in disruptive times. Drawing on her experiences across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe, Jillian…
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Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this week’s episode, host David Mendes is joined by Al Zdenek—a seasoned entrepreneur in the wealth management industry, acclaimed author, and passionate advocate for financial literacy. With over 40 years of experience as a CPA, personal financial specialist, and now co-founder of K Club, Al…
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Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis! This week, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Kirsten “Kiki” Sanford, a science communicator with an unconventional path from bird neuroscience to the front lines of science storytelling. In this episode, Dr. Kiki shares behind-the-scenes stories of launching “This Week in Science,” collaborating with mentors like Leo Laporte,…
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