Engineering Pack Pod

Tiny Wins: Learning to Adapt

José Urbina shares his journey of adjusting to a new country, a new marriage, and a demanding PhD. What began as a clear plan quickly became overwhelming, but through support, resilience, and persistence, he learned to adapt and grow in ways he never expected.

What Leadership Really Feels Like (No One Tells You This) - David Bates

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, executive advisor and author David Bates shares what leadership really feels like behind the scenes; the pressure, loneliness, burnout, and responsibility that come with leading people and organizations. Drawing from over 30 years of executive experience, David explores curiosity, trust, perfectionism, and the importance of building leadership that lasts without losing yourself in the process.

Tiny Wins: Breaking Burnout One Step at a Time

In this episode of Tiny Wins, Anna Bona shares her journey through the challenges of PhD life, including burnout, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed by research. What started as a simple decision to attend a gym class became a turning point,  helping her break out of constant stress, improve her mental health, and become more productive. Anna reminds us that sometimes the smallest step can create the biggest shift.

Understanding AI: From Chatbots to Agentic Intelligence

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, Dr. Will Kirschenman breaks down artificial intelligence in a practical and accessible way. From chatbots like ChatGPT to the emerging world of agentic AI, he explains how these tools are transforming research, productivity, and decision-making. He also shares insights on ethical use, building trust with AI systems, and why curiosity is essential in navigating this rapidly evolving space.

Tiny Wins: Hitting the Ground Running

Catch us this week for another episode of Tiny Wins, discussing real grad school challenges that sometimes appear invisible from the outside. We are joined by current first-year PhD student, Allison File, as she shares her Win of adapting quickly to the changes of starting a new program on a new campus. Allison joined a well-established research group in Mechanical Engineering here at NC State, and attributes her seamless transition to a few "simple" tricks: asking for help, acting intentionally, and valuing progress over perfection! She also discusses how a community of other first-year students helped to normalize feelings of "imposter phenomenon."