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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In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Tina Persson, a PhD in organic chemistry turned career coach, recruiter, and author, to dive into the reality behind making the leap from academia to industry. During the conversation Tina shares her personal journey, from her PhD and climbing the academic ladder, to discovering that professorship…
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Welcome to this new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Morgan Foret, who brings a fresh perspective on navigating the journey from academia to industry. Morgan shares her personal story, beginning with her undergraduate studies in cell biology, an international research internship in Germany,…
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Welcome to a special collaborative episode of “Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD” featuring Sarah McClusky, host of the Research Adjacent podcast. In this conversation, David Mendes sits down with Sarah to explore the often overlooked world of research-adjacent careers—the roles, paths, and opportunities for PhDs and researchers beyond traditional academic tracks. Sarah draws on…
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Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD! In this positivity-charged conversation, we’re joined by Ashley Moses, a PhD candidate in neurosciences at Stanford University. Ashley is not only advancing her own research but she’s also created a precious resource, for herself and for her fellow graduate students – PhD Paths –…
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Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD, where we’re diving deep into the world of academia with Dr. Vikki Wright. Dr. Wright, the founder of The PhD Life Coach, joins David Mendes to share her journey from a full professorship at the University of Birmingham to becoming a life coach empowering…
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Join the Beyond the Thesis Skool community! Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, the podcast that explores unconventional career paths for PhD graduates.! In today’s episode, titled “Outside-the-Box Career Paths Post-PhD,” our host David Mendes sits down with Sara Thompson, a seasoned public speaking coach and nonprofit professional. During the…
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Join the Beyond the Thesis Skool community! Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In today’s episode, David Mendes chats with Andrew (Andy) T. Ceperley, a seasoned university administrator, consultant, and certified coach. Together, we explore alternative career paths for PhD graduates, such as grant writing and university administration roles, highlighting key…
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Join the Beyond the Thesis Skool community! Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! Today, we’re diving deep into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of both academic and professional life: soft skills. Joining me is Kaitlin Mingirulli, a Ph.D. graduate in engineering sciences and founder of the Mingirulli Group, dedicated…
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