Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD

What if your academic CV is working against you? This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, creative strategist and branding expert Michael Dargie joins David Mendes to reframe how researchers can become memorable in non-academic spaces.

Drawing from his new book Brandjitsu, Michael shares his unique approach to personal branding, designed for introverts and extroverts alike. Learn why showcasing only 20% of your experience can ...

Dans cet épisode spécial d'Horizon PhD, je t’emmène à la rencontre de sept PhDs qui ont choisi une voie peu connue, mais pleine de sens : devenir scientifique en résidence dans une délégation du Québec à l’étranger.

À Toronto, New York, Mexico, Rabat, Paris, Rome et à Séoul, ces jeunes scientifiques mettent leurs compétences au service de la diplomatie scientifique et de la coopération internationale au sein du programme de résiden...

In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I talk with Michelle Niemeyer - speaker, coach, and former attorney - about how to stay sharp, productive, and joyful without burning out. After experiencing burnout herself during her legal career and facing a life-changing health diagnosis, Michelle developed The Art of Bending Time: a framework to help professionals align their work, life, and purpose.

Together, we explore:

How do you go from scientist to science-informed coach helping women in STEM manage stress and avoid burnout?

In this powerful episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I sit down with Lexi Reid - a former plant biologist and regulatory affairs specialist who found herself emotionally depleted after years in academia, government, and the medical device industry. Lexi shares her deeply personal and transformative journey of confro...

What happens after you land your first job post-PhD? For many researchers, the transition from academia is just the beginning. In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, Katerina Thomas joins David Mendes to explore how mentorship, self-awareness, and internal motivation shape the next stages of a PhD’s career journey.

Drawing from her own experience as a PhD in the life sciences now thriving in industry, Katerina reflects...

Dans cet épisode d’Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD, je reçois l’essayiste et professeur Mathieu Bélisle. Ensemble, nous revisitons son parcours universitaire marqué par des doutes, des abandons et une reconquête progressive du sens à travers l’enseignement collégial. Ce témoignage nuancé aborde la pression académique, la fatigue mentale en doctorat, et la quête de sens qui pousse parfois à sortir des sentiers battus de l’universi...

🎙️ This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, Lucia Juarez, PhD, academic coach and creator of the SmartPhD system, joins us to talk about how PhD students can reclaim their time, boost academic confidence, and finish faster without sacrificing their wellbeing.

Drawing from her own journey through burnout, motherhood, and academic overwhelm, Lucia shares how she shifted from “just work harder” to a smarter, more human approach ...

Bienvenue dans ce nouvel épisode d’Horizon PhD!

Dans cet épisode, nous partons à la rencontre de Geneviève Rolland, déléguée générale du Québec à Munich, pour mieux comprendre le rôle des scientifiques en résidence au sein des délégations du Québec à l’étranger.

Au fil de l’entretien, Geneviève partage son expérience au sein du programme, explique le quotidien de ces jeunes scientifiques qui mettent leurs compétences multidis...

🎓 Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD is the podcast that helps researchers, graduate students, and PhDs explore career possibilities beyond academia.

Hosted by David Mendes, each episode shares real stories of PhDs who have successfully transitioned into diverse roles across industry, government, communication, and entrepreneurship. With over 300 interviews and listeners in 100+ countries, this show is a treasure trove for anyone nav...

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 shares her personal journey of making bold transitions, including her ...

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 brings invaluable insights to academics navigating the often daunting shift from th...

In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Karina do Santos Machado, a trailblazing young scientist from Brazil whose journey exemplifies the power of collaboration and open science in the global South. Karina shares her path from a childhood fascination with computers to becoming a principal investigator leading cutting-edge drug discovery research with global impact, all from her home...

Dans cette nouvelle Pépite Papa PhD, Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette, astrophysicienne et communicatrice scientifique passionnée, nous raconte comment, après son doctorat, elle a osé sortir du parcours traditionnel pour se lancer dans la vulgarisation scientifique, surmontant de nombreux refus avant de trouver sa voie. Nathalie souligne l’importance de la résilience, de l’apprentissage face à l’adversité et du fait de suivre sa...

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, and mastering new technologies – much of it self-taught. She re...

Bienvenue dans cette nouvelle Pépite Papa PhD ! Dans cet excerpt de mon entrevue avec Olivier Bernard, pharmacien et vulgarisateur reconnu, il parle de comment communiquer efficacement la science, même face à la pseudoscience et aux sujets polarisants. On a parlé de l’importance de l’empathie, de la nuance et de surmonter la peur de prendre la parole publiquement. Le message à retenir : 95% des gens sont prêts à entendre la v...

Welcome to this new episode of Papa PhD Gold! Here’s the big takeaway from this excerpt from my conversation with scientific writing expert Anna Clemens: Selling isn’t a dirty word in academia – it’s all about communicating your research in a way that connects with people, even if they aren’t specialists in your field. If you approach editors, funders, or stakeholders with clarity, enthusiasm, and a strong story, you’re not b...

Welcome to this new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this one, host David Mendes sits down with Daria Levina, Harvard-educated lawyer, academic, author, and founder of Harvard State of Mind. Daria shares her experience navigating international graduate applications, the challenges of securing funding, and how resilience is key to overcoming academic setbacks.

Their conversation dives deep into the technical and ...

Bienvenue à ce nouvel épisode d’Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD, le podcast qui explore toutes les facettes de la vie après le doctorat !

Cette semaine, David Mendes accueille Assia Asrir, docteure en immunologie et figure engagée dans l’accompagnement des parcours scientifiques vers le secteur privé, nommément par le biais de la communauté Résalience.

Au long de la conversation, Assia partage les résultats d’une étude qu’e...

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 wasn’t the right fit for her ambitions and personality.

David and Tina reflect on...