the agile academic: Recent Episodes
Rebecca Pope-Ruark
On this episode, I welcome Dr. Vicki Baker to the show. Professor, leader, consultant, and coach. We talk about leadership, professional development, and doing things your way.
On this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Askey, former tenured faculty member and now higher education coach and consultant, about coaching, leadership, and coaching skills for leadership in higher ed.
On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, the author of the books Generous Thinking and Leading Generously. We talk about the state of higher education, how a lens of generosity can make change in the academy, and much more.
On this episode, I chat with Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, higher education scholar, writer, and senior leader. We talk about bringing care and empathy into higher education and finding joy in the work
On this episode, I welcome Dr. Carole Chabries, former higher education administrator and now entrepreneur. We talk about being a woman and leader in higher education and what that move to entrepreneurship looks like.
On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Liz Norell, teacher, educational developer, and author of The Present Professor. We chat about staying true to your values, finding joy in your work while taking care of yourself, and being a light in uncertain times.
On this episode, I talk style, executive presence, and being a woman in higher education with Dr. Rosaria Meek, professor, student of leadership, and founder of the Oracle of Style.
On this episode, I speak with senior vice provost and professor emerita Dr. Katherine Stewart about kindness in leadership and mentoring, about career transitions, and about building a business around joy.
Welcome to this special mini-season of the agile academic where my co-editor Lee Skallerup Bessette and I introduce our edited collection, Of Many Minds: Mental Health and Neurodiversity Among Higher Education Faculty and Staff, out now from Johns Hopkins University Press. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Katie Rose Guest Pryal who wrote the foreword for the collection. We talk about the book, her experiences as a neurodivergent author and scholar in higher education and her new books exploring parenting neurodivergent children and pregnancy for neurodivergent mothers.
Welcome to this special mini-season of the agile academic where my co-editor Lee Skallerup Bessette and I introduce our edited collection Of Many Minds: Mental Health and Neurodiversity Among Higher Education Faculty and Staff out now from Johns Hopkins University Press. In this episode, we do something a little different - contributor Jim Luke walks us through his life and how his neurodiversity and physical challenges shaped his career in industry and higher education.
Welcome to this special mini-season of the agile academic where my co-editor Lee Skallerup Bessette and I introduce our edited collection Of Many Minds: Mental Health and Neurodiversity Among Higher Education Faculty and Staff out now from Johns Hopkins University Press. In this episode, Lee and I speak with Shannan Palma about her experience being neurodivergent in higher education and contributing to the Of Many Minds project.
Welcome to this special mini-season of the agile academic where my co-editor Lee Skallerup Bessette and I introduce our edited collection Of Many Minds: Mental Health and Neurodiversity Among Higher Education Faculty and Staff out now from Johns Hopkins University Press. In this episode, Lee and I talk about our editorial and authorial journey with the book and give you some insights into how it came into being.
Sign up for our open book discussion on September 26 at 11:30!
In this special episode of the agile academic, Dr. Stephanie Gilbert and I discuss our grief experiences and her research on bereavement in the workplace.
On season 4 episode 6 of the agile academic, I’m joined Dr. Katie Rose Guest Pryal, law professor, speaker, and author. We talk about neurodiversity and mental health, stigma in higher ed, and being well.
On season 4 episode 5 of the agile academic, I talk with Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, professor of education at the University of Texas Austin, leader, educator, and disability advocate. We discuss the importance of connection, disability in higher ed, and founding things that matter.
On season 4 episode 4 of the agile academic, I chat with Dr. Jen Heemstra, chair and professor of chemistry at Washington University of St. Louis. Jen and I cover culture, leadership, failure, and what it means to be a mentor.
On season 4 episode 3 of the agile academic, I sit down with Dr. Tracie Addy, Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning at Lafayette College and co-author of the book What Inclusive Teachers Do. Tracie and I chat about her purpose in advancing inclusive teaching and learning, new projects, and change agency.
On season 4 episode 2 of the agile academic, I talk with Dr. Annmarie Caño, higher ed leader, coach, and professor of psychology at Gonzaga University, about transforming culture and transformational change in higher ed.
On season 4 episode 1 of the agile academic, I chat with Dr. Elizabeth Wardle, professor and director of the Howe Center for Writing Excellence at Miami University of Ohio. Liz and I talk about the political situation in Ohio, its impact on higher ed and ways to be politically active.
Chapter 5 of Unraveling Faculty Burnout looks at connection, the topic of this mini-episode.
In this mini-episode I share a selection from Chapter 4 on compassion from my book, Unraveling Faculty Burnout.
On this episode of the agile academic, I share an excerpt from the first of the four burnout resilience chapters in Unraveling Faculty Burnout – chapter 3 on purpose.canv
Thanks for listening to this mini-episode of the agile academic podcast for women in higher ed based on my book Unraveling Faculty Burnout: Pathways for Reckoning and Renewal. The book is available from Johns Hopkins University Press, and you’ll find a link to the page in the transcript. If you are interested in doing a book club on your campus and having me speak with your faculty, please email me at agilefaculty dot rpr at gmail dot com.
In this episode, I give you a sneak peak into Chapter 1 of Unraveling Faculty Burnout on higher ed culture.
On this episode, the last of season three, I share some of my own advocacy work related to burnout.
On this episode, Dr. Kelly J. Baker and I have an engaging conversation about taking winding career paths, being authors, and how our mental health impacts our work.
Rebecca Pope-Ruark: Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avatal joins me on this episode. A psychologist and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging advocate, we talk about research and springs from personal experience and who gets to sit at the table.
On this episode I’m joined by Dr. Lindsay Masland, psychologist, educational developer, and rule-breaker. We talk about breath, liberation, and ease in the context of values and work.
In episode 3 of season 3, I speak with Dr. Cate Denial about her concept of a pedagogy of kindness and how boundaries are a kindness in and of themselves.
On episode 2 of season 3, I talk with Dr. Lauren Cagle about flexibility, academic labor, and speaking truth to power.
On this first episode of season 3, I talk with Dr. Lee Skallerup Bessette about pedagogy and technology, neurodivergence, and affective labor.
In this episode, I recruited 5 coaching friends to share their thoughts of starting off the new year win intention.
In this between-isode, Rebecca picks up the thread about values from the previous episode on vitality vs. flourishing and shares an except from her upcoming book, Unraveling Faculty Burnout (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022).
In this between-isode I share my thoughts on the concepts of vitality and flourishing in your work life and share excerpts from a blog post and from Agile Faculty on the subject.
In this episode, I lead you in a few different reflection activities to wrap up the year and think deeply about your purpose and identity going into 2022.
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, I speak with Drs. Kerry Mandulak and Amanda Stead about friendship and motherhood in academia.
On this episode, I talk about taking care of yourself and making you own way in higher education with Dr. Cynthia Ganote.
On this episode, I talk to Dr. Caitlin Faas about side gigs, leaving academia, and the value of self-care and self-knowledge.
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, I sit down with Dr. Fatimah Williams, founder of Beyond the Tenure Track, a professional development and career-planning firm for graduate students and PhDs. We talk about life and work beyond academia, staying curious while networking, and being an entrepreneur.
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, professor and life coach Dr. Leslie Wang and I talk about burning out, starting a coaching journey, and finding what fills you up.
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, I talk with Dr. Bonni Stachowiak, professor, administrator, and host of the long-running podcast, Teaching in Higher Ed. We talk about podcasting, living your purpose, and balancing roles when you are a multi-hyphenate.
To kick off the second season of the agile academic podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Susanna Harris, science communicator, graduate student mental health advocate, and founder of PhDBalance. In this conversation, Susanna and I dig deep into the mental health and burnout, and talk about trust, support, and removing the stigma of mental health issues in higher ed.
In this last episode of season 1 of the agile academic podcast for women in higher ed, I compile my guests' wise words of advice and look t them through the lens of my four resilience pillars: purpose, compassion, connection, and balance
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, I talk with Dr. Mary Churchill, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement and Adjunct Professor at Boston University’s Wheelock College. And since we recorded this episode, Mary has a new role as Chief of Policy and Planning for the City of Boston. In our conversation, we talk about leadership, collaboration, and the power of women coaching women.
I speak to Dr. Sarah Rose Cavanagh, associate professor of psychology and educational developer at Assumption University. We talk about writing books for academic and general audiences, women supporting women and taking care of your body, not just your mind.
On this episode of the agile academic podcast, I talked to Dr. Lisa Munro, former Peace Corps volunteer, history PhD, and study abroad facilitator. We talk about her unique path in and around higher ed, moving to Mexico and making the most out of opportunities to live the way you want to live.
Rebecca talks to Dr. Michelle Dionne Thompson, an academic and coach who works with early career attorneys and academics, about balance, well-bring, and rest.
Rebecca and Karen talk about what it means to make higher education more humane and to be a higher educator.
Rebecca and Katie talk about following your purpose, enacting your values, and figuring out what those even are.
In this teaser, learn more about the agile academic, a podcast for women in higher ed - meet your host, hear from guests, and bookmark the show!
In this first episode of the agile academic podcast, I chat with three women who have had a substantial and crucial impact on my professional life with their support, advice, and friendship. Meet my colleagues Drs. Sandy French of Radford University, Ashley Patriarca from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and Jennifer Veltsos of Minnesota State University Mankato. We talk about the importance of having women academics at other institutions who you trust and value, how our ten-year Facebook chat backchannel has impacted each of us, and some advice for finding your own tribe of supportive women in higher ed.