Episodes 20
Avg. Duration 20m
Activity Highly Active
Since Oct 2024
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

A Postdoc’s Journal is a personal and reflective podcast offering a candid look at the emotional journey I went through navigating life as a postdoctoral research scientist. Hosted by me (Simit Patel, PhD - www.linkedin.com/in/simit-patel-063388ab), a former academic who spent years journalling through the highs and lows of my postdoc. Each episode delves into real journal entries from that time in my life, followed by reflections on mental health, academia, and life beyond the lab. Whether you’re a current postdoc, an aspiring academic, or someone recovering from the rigors of academic life, this podcast offers relatable stories, emotional support, and insights from someone who has been there. Join me for honest conversations about impostor syndrome, burnout, and the challenges that come with academic research, all aimed at reminding you that you are not alone in this journey.

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Recent Episodes

S2E5 ASKING FOR TIME OFF

Jun 08, 2026 23m

SEASON 2, EPISODE 5: ASKING FOR TIME OFFThis episode is about taking time off from work. I examine why I used to feel quite uncomfortable asking for time off while I was a postdoc and why I feel much…

S2E4 DEPRESSION

Jun 01, 2026 29m

SEASON 2, EPISODE 4: DEPRESSIONThis episode is my experience of depression. It is not as dramatic or as extreme as other accounts of depression you may have heard, but I think “moderate” depression…

S2E3 ACCEPTANCE

May 25, 2026 19m

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3: ACCEPTANCEThis episode is about accepting the negative beliefs you have about yourself. By revisiting this journal entry, I realised that I still experience the same negative…

S2E2 COLLABORATION

May 18, 2026 16m

SEASON 2, EPISODE 2: COLLABORATIONThis episode is about how uncomfortable I used to feel about collaboration during my postdoc and how I started to lose the joy in things I used to love. I was…

S2E1 TAKING A BREAK MIGHT NOT BE THE ANSWER

May 11, 2026 21m

SEASON 2, EPISODE 1: TAKING BREAK MIGHT NOT BE THE ANSWERThis episode is about returning to a stressful situation after taking a break. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to fall back into the thought…

S1E13 BONUS: 1000 DOWNLOADS + ANNOUCEMENTS

Apr 25, 2025 3m Bonus

BONUS: 1000 DOWNLOADS + ANNOUCEMENTSA Massive thank you to everyone who has helped me get to the significant milestone of 1000 downloads.For more information about the podcast and for my contact…

S1E12 LACK OF MENTORSHIP

Mar 09, 2025 20m

EPISODE 12: LACK OF MENTORSHIPThis is the LAST EPISODE of season 1!!In this episode of 'A Postdoc's Journal', I read a journal entry from December 2013--just after Christmas. I was at Heathrow…

S1E11 HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT

Mar 02, 2025 16m

EPISODE 11: HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANTIn this episode of 'A Postdoc's Journal', I read a journal entry from December 2013-just before Christmas. This is a slightly different journal entry where…

S1E10 LIFE LESSONS

Feb 23, 2025 24m Transcript

EPISODE 10: LIFE LESSONSIn this episode of 'A Postdoc's Journal', I read a journal entry from December 2013. This is the fist time I started asking the pivotal question that changed my life: "Should…

S1E9 FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

Feb 14, 2025 25m Transcript

EPISODE 9: FIXED-TERM CONTRACTIn this episode of 'A Postdoc's Journal', I read a journal entry from July 2013, reflecting on my contract renewal struggles and the lack of job security in academia. I…

S1E8 YEAR 1 REVIEW

Jan 29, 2025 20m Transcript

EPISODE 8: YEAR 1 REVIEWIn this episode of 'A Postdoc's Journal', I read out a personal journal entry from December 2012—close to the end of my first year of my postdoc. I give a very harsh review of…

S1E7 FEELING BULLIED

Jan 13, 2025 22m Transcript

EPISODE 7: FEELING BULLIEDIn this episode of "A Postdocs Journal," we jump to the middle of October 2012, about two weeks after EPISODE 6. I discuss the challenges of changing research directions, my…

S1E6 IT'S NOT ENOUGH

Jan 05, 2025 23m

EPISODE 6: IT'S NOT ENOUGHIn this episode, we jump to October 2012—about nine months into my postdoc. In this journal entry, I am reviewing my year so far and I'm judging my progress (or lack of…

S1E5 WORK LIFE IMBALANCE

Dec 15, 2024 20m

EPISODE 5: WORK LIFE IMBALANCEIn this episode, we jump to May 2012—about three to four months into the postdoc. At this point things still weren't going well in the lab, but I seem to be doing OK…

S1E4 MAYBE I'M NOT THE PROBLEM

Nov 28, 2024 19m

EPISODE 4: MAYBE I'M NOT THE PROBLEMFirstly, a MASSIVE thank you to my listeners for your support so far. I reflect a little bit about what I've learned so far from all of you.In this episode, we…

S1E3 I BLAME MYSELF

Nov 21, 2024 26m

EPISODE 3: I BLAME MYSELFIn this episode, we jump to the middle of March 2012—about six weeks into my 'new' postdoc. At this point, I had started working more in the lab. Nothing was working, and I…

S1E2 FEELING SELF-CONSCIOUS

Nov 14, 2024 16m

EPISODE 2: FEELING SELF-CONSCIOUSIn this episode, we jump February 2012—about two weeks into my new postdoc. In this entry, I'm agonizing over whether to go to a conference or not, and I try to…

S1E1 FEELING OUT OF MY DEPTH

Nov 07, 2024 15m

EPISODE 1: FEELING OUT OF MY DEPTHIn this episode, we jump a cold, grey December day in 2011. This is the day after my postdoc job interview. Despite being offered the job on the spot, my confidence…

S1 INTRODUCTION

Oct 27, 2024 10m

EPISODE 0: INTRODUCTIONIn this episode, I will introduce explain what the podcast is, why I'm doing it, and who it is for. I will also introduce myself!Timestamps:[00:00] - Intro[01:00] - What is a…

Trailer: A Postdoc's Journal

Oct 18, 2024 1m Trailer

A trailer for my new podcast: A Postdoc's Journal. A podcast by Simit Patel, PhD.Each week, I will read out entries from my own personal journal from back when I was a postdoc. Then I reflect on it,…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A Postdoc's Journal have?

A Postdoc's Journal has published 20 episodes since October 2024, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is A Postdoc's Journal still active?

A Postdoc's Journal is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 20m.

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