The PhD Life Coach

Vikki Wright

Whether you're a PhD student or an experienced academic, life in a university can be tough. If you're feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, or out of your depth, the PhD Life Coach can help. We talk about issues that affect all academics and how we can feel better now, without having to be perfect productivity machines. We usually do this career because we love it, so let's remember what that feels like! I'm your host, Dr Vikki Wright. Join my newsletter at www.thephdlifecoach.com.

#6 in the Top 100 phd All time chart

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Top 10 The PhD Life Coach Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The PhD Life Coach episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The PhD Life Coach for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The PhD Life Coach episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

BONUS: Ten lessons I learned about doing PhDs by playing Stardew Valley

The PhD Life Coach

12/26/22 • 21 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Even if you've never played Stardew Valley before, you will still love this episode! I will take you through ten important lessons to succeed in your PhD, using tenuous Stardew metaphors to explain them! Enjoy!
(Please note you may prefer to watch this on YouTube here https://youtu.be/WZU6dXoxhLg so you can see gameplay too)

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I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!
I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.
#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

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16. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 3)

The PhD Life Coach

01/30/23 • 21 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In the final part of this theory, we think about the story you tell about yourself. What story do you really believe about yourself? Perhaps you believe you're slow at writing. Perhaps you believe that you always get distracted. We'll work through why these stories can lead to some really negative consequences and how you can challenge them and build different stories about yourself. This isn't about "positive thinking", it's about focusing on the stories that make you feel good and help you build the life you want.
You can find out more about working with me at www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me

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12. How to set New Year's resolutions that stick with Dr Karin Nordin

The PhD Life Coach

01/02/23 • 40 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

n this episode, our guest Dr Karin Nordin shares with us evidence-based recommendations for how to set New Year's resolutions that stick. Instead of just talking about it though, she coaches me through my New Year's resolutions so you can see it in action. This is a great opportunity to hear some real life coaching and get tips for your own compassion-first behaviour change.
*please note this episode includes discussion of weight loss*

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14. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 1)

The PhD Life Coach

01/16/23 • 24 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the first of a three part series on how to tell your story. It's really common, at any career stage, to feel like you've lost track of where you're at and how to get where you want to be. If you're applying for jobs, trying to secure awards or recognitions, or going for promotion or tenure, then these episodes are for you! Even if you're not doing these things at the moment, figuring out "your story" can help reduce overwhelm, ease decision making and lower your cognitive, and actual, work. In this first episode I talk about what I mean by "telling your story" and the many ways it can make your life better.

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15. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 2)

The PhD Life Coach

01/23/23 • 31 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the second of a three part series (check out the first part here - https://www.thephdlifecoach.com/14-how-to-tell-your-story-and-get-the-recognition-you-deserve-part-1) about how to tell your academic story.
This time, I give you a step-by-step process to move from a busy, haphazard-feeling career to having a structured overview that you can use. From here, you can strategise and prioritise about what to focus on and use the document to apply for jobs, plan for promotion and apply for awards and recognitions.

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17. Why you should never cross things off your to do list and what you should do instead

The PhD Life Coach

02/06/23 • 15 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I talk about the way PhD students and academics spend so much time looking what they need to do next that they forget to recognise what they've done. I introduce the "well done list" and show you how it can help you build confidence and productivity.
To find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me

3.14 Why Word Count Goals Don't Work for PhD Writing – And What to Do Instead

The PhD Life Coach

12/09/24 • 14 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, we’re diving into a common trap many PhD students and academics fall into: setting word count goals like “500 words a day” or “6,000 words by next month.” While these goals sound productive, they often oversimplify the complex process of academic writing.

I’ll explain why relying on word count as a measure of progress can hinder your motivation and overlook crucial aspects of writing, such as revising, outlining, and refining ideas. Most importantly, I’ll share smarter, more effective ways to track your progress and keep your writing on track without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re struggling to stay motivated with your thesis, dissertation, or academic papers, this episode is here to help you rethink how you approach writing. Tune in to make meaningful progress without getting stuck in the word count trap!

Perfect for PhD students, early career researchers, and anyone navigating academic writing challenges.

3.08 How to be more patient and realistic (part of the Be Your Own Best Boss series)

The PhD Life Coach

10/28/24 • 27 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you make unrealistic plans and get impatient that you’re not progressing more quickly, then this is the episode for you! I’m going to give you specific tips about how to be more realistic and more patient so that you can be a better boss to yourself! I’ll talk about when you need to be realistic and patient, what thoughts will help and what feelings, actions and results we can then generate. If you like it, check out the rest of the five part series where I talk about 8 other qualities – compassionate, curious, strategic, ambitious, intentional, resourceful, encouraging and accepting. These all come from my online course, how to be your own best boss, which you can find on my website if you want more support! www.thephdlifecoach.com

3.03 How to get started on a task

The PhD Life Coach

09/23/24 • 23 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

A lot of PhD students and academics struggle to get started on a task or believe that they can’t start until they’ve got lots of time. In this episode, I show you how to get started on a task, so that you can complete work even when you’re busy, with less drama and stress. I show you how some of your thoughts are holding you back and give you three ways to get started on your key tasks.

3.15 Creating Positive Academic Environments: Insights from Sports Psychology with Dr Andrew Dewar

The PhD Life Coach

12/16/24 • 61 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Andrew Dewar from Oxygen Conservation to explore how we can build more positive, motivational environments in academia using insights from sports psychology.

We dive into strategies for fostering recovery, supporting each other, and creating climates that inspire students and supervisors alike. Learn how to:

Create a supervisory relationship that cares for both the people involved AND academic performance
Boost autonomy, competence, and connection in your academic life.
Apply proven techniques from sports psychology to reduce stress and enhance performance.

Whether you’re a PhD student striving for balance or a supervisor aiming to better support your team, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in academia.

🎧 Tune in to discover how you can contribute to something bigger while achieving your personal and professional goals.

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FAQ

How many episodes does The PhD Life Coach have?

The PhD Life Coach currently has 108 episodes available.

What topics does The PhD Life Coach cover?

The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Stress, Mental Health, Help, Study, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education, Phd and Academic.

What is the most popular episode on The PhD Life Coach?

The episode title '15. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 2)' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The PhD Life Coach?

The average episode length on The PhD Life Coach is 34 minutes.

How often are episodes of The PhD Life Coach released?

Episodes of The PhD Life Coach are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The PhD Life Coach?

The first episode of The PhD Life Coach was released on Oct 18, 2022.

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The PhD Life Coach

Vikki Wright

Top 10 The PhD Life Coach Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The PhD Life Coach have?

What topics does The PhD Life Coach cover?

What is the most popular episode on The PhD Life Coach?

What is the average episode length on The PhD Life Coach?

How often are episodes of The PhD Life Coach released?

When was the first episode of The PhD Life Coach?

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