Dissertating: In the trenches and behind the scenes

The Space Between Pressure and Progress

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507100/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, Dr. TiffianyAnn Lundine talks with Dr. Miguel Rubio about mindfulness, mental health, and academic performance during the doctoral journey. Dr. Rubio shares his personal story of navigating financial hardship, immigration, parenting during COVID, and the pressures of doctoral education while exploring how mindfulness can support focus, resilience, and self-awareness. Together, they discuss academic stress, productivity, perception, and why the doctoral journey often becomes a process of self-exploration as much as scholarship. This conversation is reflective, honest, and especially meaningful for learners trying to remain grounded while navigating demanding academic work.

Someone Who Gets It

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507100/fan_mail/new] Doctoral work is often described as isolating, overwhelming, and deeply personal. But what happens when someone truly understands the journey alongside you? In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, Drs. Noreen Hobayan and Carolyn Peters share how an unexpected partnership during the dissertation phase became a lifeline through discouragement, revisions, leadership changes, self-doubt, and exhaustion. What began as simple Zoom study sessions evolved into a powerful source of accountability, friendship, emotional support, and persistence. Together, they reflect on what it means to keep showing up for yourself, and for someone else, during one of the most demanding academic journeys a person can experience. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most important part of finishing is finding someone who gets it.

Choosing a Dissertation Topic You Can Actually Finish

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507100/fan_mail/new] Choosing a dissertation topic can feel overwhelming. I certainly felt like I had to get it exactly "right". In this episode, Dr. Tim Newman and I move away from the pressure of finding the perfect topic and instead explore how to choose one that can actually carry you through the doctoral journey. We talk about alignment, purpose, feasibility, and why your “why” matters more than anything else. This conversation is for you If you’ve been stuck, second-guessing, or waiting for clarity. Hopefully it will help you think differently about what it really means to choose a dissertation topic.

Guerrilla Scholarship: Learning Beyond Permission with Dr. Sheldon Greaves

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507100/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, TiffianyAnn Lundine sits down with Dr. Sheldon Greaves, author of The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook, to explore what it means to pursue rigorous intellectual work both inside and beyond the academy. Together, they discuss how doctoral education shapes scholarly identity, why curiosity often fades, and how learning can unintentionally become transactional. Dr. Greaves introduces the idea of guerrilla scholarship—the pursuit of meaningful intellectual work without waiting for institutional permission. The conversation also explores the importance of reflection, intellectual humility, and creating space for ideas to grow. For doctoral learners navigating exhaustion, isolation, and the pressure to finish, this episode offers a powerful reminder: scholarship does not belong only to institutions—it belongs to anyone willing to stay curious and keep asking better questions. The Guerrilla Scholar's Handbook, available on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/4114Sd6

The Question Beneath the Question

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507100/fan_mail/new] Most doctoral learners don’t leave because they aren’t capable. They leave because something deeper has gone unnamed. In this reflective conversation, Dr. John Wade and I explore what lies beneath the research question, such as misaligned expectations, identity shifts, feedback fatigue, and the quiet tension between persistence and purpose. We discuss why the dissertation phase feels different from coursework, how meaning sustains momentum, and why staying with a hard question can shape who you become. If you’re in the trenches questioning your progress, your topic, or yourself, this episode invites you to pause and consider the question beneath the question.