Changing the narrative [Self-coaching series for academics Ep. 3]

The hidden stories shaping your academic career

You might think your habits, stress, and writing patterns are just "how things are." This episode will show you how they're actually driven by invisible narratives you absorbed in grad school—and once you see them, you can start to change them.

Why academia trains you into scarcity (and how that affects your writing)

If you've ever felt like there's never enough time—or never enough money—this episode explains why that feeling is so persistent. You'll see how academia normalizes scarcity thinking and how that mindset quietly shapes your decisions, productivity, and even your willingness to invest in your own growth.

The burnout cycle you didn't choose—but might still be living

This episode connects the dots between grad school culture and long-term burnout. If you struggle to rest without guilt or feel like you should always be working, you'll recognize exactly where that came from—and why it's not actually serving you anymore.

A powerful reframe that could change how you approach time and money

What if there was enough time? What if resources weren't as limited as you've been taught? This episode invites you into a bold (and slightly uncomfortable) experiment: trying on an abundance mindset and seeing what shifts in your behavior and decisions.

A practical exercise to rewrite your academic identity

You won't just leave with insights—you'll leave with something to do. Cathy walks you through a concrete exercise to identify your inherited narratives and actively rewrite them into ones that support your writing, your career, and your well-being.

About the Self-Coaching for Academics Series

This special podcast series is a practical introduction to self-coaching—designed specifically for academics. Across these episodes, you'll learn how to examine your thinking, untangle emotional reactions, and make clearer, more aligned decisions about your writing and career. Instead of more productivity hacks, you'll gain tools to shift beliefs, reduce false urgency, and build real confidence from the inside out. If you're ready to think differently about your academic life, start with this series.

• Navigate Program Summer Intensive: https://scholarsvoice.org/navigate

• Email list ("In the Pipeline" newsletter): https://scholarsvoice.org

• Book mentioned: Making Time to Write by Cathy Mazak