Rise with Clarity Podcast

Professors: What kind of support systems do you have to lean on right now, in this current moment? 

I think this is a really important question to ask yourself and to answer. In an earlier episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I shared some ways that you can better identify your support systems within and beyond higher education. 

In that episode—which was number 40—I take you through a kind of brainstorming exercise so that you ...

In this 50th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, and the first one of 2026, I’m going to be reflecting on how I’m going to really try and lean into my word of the year, which is NOURISH. 

There are a couple definitions for nourish:

1. To provide with the food or nutrients that are necessary for life, health, well-being, and growth.
2. To cherish or foster.
3. To strengthen, build up, or promote.
4. To keep a feeling or belief in one'...

2025 has been a year of peak disruption for faculty in higher ed.

It’s not surprising, then, that this year has spurred some of you to begin to consider what a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D could look like for you.

This episode is for those of you who are facing some pretty big decisions on the horizon—like whether to stay at your current institution, apply for jobs in different states, start a side hustle, or pivot out of higher ed com...

Does your research stop after you’ve left academia? 

This is a question that I explore in the 48th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast. I offer some reflections on a few professional experiences that I've had this year as an author, a consultant, and as a speaker, and I think of the ways in which research has been embedded in these experiences even though I'm no longer in the academy.

You can find the full written tran...

Prior to starting your first job, how many of you were trained to lead an effective graduate seminar? Was your first experience with facilitating a graduate seminar during your first year on the tenure track? And do you remember how that went?

In this encore broadcast of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’ll be talking about some of the challenges with leading graduate seminars for your first time. And I want to offer you some strateg...

How many requests to review article or book manuscripts do you receive on a regular basis? 

And do you have a process for deciding what you’ll take on in a given semester or academic year?

In this 46th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast I want to talk a little bit about the pros and cons entailed in doing peer reviews. I hope that by addressing some of these dimensions that aren’t talked about so openly, you can start to make m...

What are your values when it comes to AI? And following up on that question, what are your pedagogical values when it comes to AI usage in the classroom?

If you’re confused about how to navigate this new reality, it’s completely understandable! It’s also reasonable if you are feeling conflicted about whether you are even Team AI or not.

In this 45th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I share 10 reflective questions that can he...

In this encore broadcast, I discuss the topic of amplifying the academic achievements of women of color faculty. I reflect on how it can sometimes be very challenging for women of color faculty to promote their own achievements. Lastly, I offer 6 tips on how to better ensure your academic accomplishments are acknowledged, documented, and amplified.  

Find the full transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/44 or RisewithClar...

Professors: What lights you up in your job?

If you need to think about your response to this question, I invite you to linger a bit here. Because I think it’s important for you to have some clarity on this as you move forward in your academic career—whether you’re just starting out as a new professor or you’re well beyond tenure. 

In this 43rd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I reflect on how being more  strategic and intent...

Conceptualizing and developing a course syllabus may be daunting if this is a first-time experience for you. You might feel compelled to devote the entire summer to crafting your syllabi.

In this 42nd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, which is a re-release of Episode 24, I share 6 tips on course and syllabus prep for those of you who are new to teaching. But I also bring into this discussion some newer concerns about how cer...

Are you a new professor who is beginning your first year on the tenure track this fall? If so, then this episode is just for you! 

In this 41st episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I reflect on the different components of the onboarding process for new faculty, and offer you 5 tips on how to manage some of the overwhelm that may come with this big transition. 

Find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity....

In this 40th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about identifying systems of support for you in and beyond higher ed as you move forward in the coming months. I demonstrate how you can use the GROW model to help you identify and articulate what systems of support you need to reach your goals by the end of the summer. You can find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/40, as well as all of...

How do you mentor PhD students on a career pathway that’s very different from your own? What advice would you give to your students who are looking to leave higher ed, especially if you have never worked outside of academia? For many faculty, this situation can seem pretty daunting. 

In this 39th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I introduce you to a simple coaching tool called the GROW model that you can employ to help with...

How do you help PhD students who want to pursue a non-academic career after graduation? Some programs or departments have the expectation that their graduates will choose careers in diverse fields like industry, healthcare, government, the non-profit sector, or primary education. 

But there are lots of graduate programs out there that offer specific training for graduate students on how to enter the academy as a professor. 

This kind...

If someone were to ask you today about your core values, would you be able to articulate them out loud? Have you ever spent the time to think about your values, especially as they relate to your professional work?

When I asked these questions to a former client of mine in our very first session, she was stumped. She was at a crossroads in her life, where she had essentially come to the decision to leave her job. But she was full of ...

How do you want to show up as a scholar right now? For those of you who are based in the United States, this is a question that you are already facing now or will in the near future.

No matter which way you turn, you are likely to be impacted by this administration’s repressive actions. At the very least, you will be affected by the recent austerity measures that many university administrators are now implementing in response to att...

Are you new to caring for an aging parent or parents? If so, I want you to let you know that I’m thinking of you and your loved one on this challenging journey.

I started my own caregiving journey in quite an unexpected way, after my father had a serious and debilitating stroke over 2 years ago. For part of this time, I was a tenured faculty member, struggling to manage my professional duties with my new role as a caregiver and as a...

How many of you are currently providing some form of care for your aging parents while also serving in your faculty position? And how many of you are also raising your own children at the same time? How are you holding up right now?

In this 34th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I share a little bit about my journey as a patient advocate and caregiver for my father. This is Part 2 of a short series that I’m putting out on fa...

Many of us who are faculty who are in our 40s and 50s are part of what is called the “sandwich” generation. This means that some of us are providing care for both our aging parents as well as children while also trying to advance on the tenure track.

In this 33rd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I'll be discussing caring for aging parents when you're also a faculty member. This will be the first in a se...