Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Beyond the Physics is a podcast run by Joseph Guzman and Irene Roman, PhD physics students, who hope to learn more about the universe, and the people that make up the culture behind the science. Come along as we hope to tackle some of the most difficult, and thought provoking questions of our time, and shatter the notions of what it takes to be a physicist.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Physics grad-school life and career transitions • Research areas: cosmology, quantum/field theory, high-energy, condensed matter, astronomy • Quals/advisors/abuse, imposter syndrome, burnout • Culture, diversity, immigration • Philosophy, consciousness, morality, religion/spirituality, existentialism • Personal growth, therapy, communication, identityThis podcast is hosted by two physics PhD students who use long-form conversations to explore both the universe and the human culture surrounding physics. Across the show, scientific topics are presented alongside candid discussions of what it’s like to train and work as a physicist, with particular attention to the graduate-school pipeline and the people moving through it.
A recurring focus is the lived experience of higher education in physics: qualifying exams, prospectus and oral exams, research group dynamics, the advisor–student relationship, and the stressors that accompany these milestones. Guests and hosts frequently describe non-linear pathways into science, including barriers related to background, finances, and immigration status, and they examine how these factors shape confidence, opportunity, and a sense of belonging in the field. Career uncertainty is another throughline, with conversations comparing academic paths such as postdoctoral work to industry roles and national labs, including tradeoffs around stability, freedom, bureaucracy, and credentials versus skills.
The show also leans into the psychology of being a scientist. Themes include imposter syndrome, burnout, coping strategies, therapy and communication tools, identity work, and recovery from harmful professional environments. Personal updates and life events are treated as part of the scientific journey rather than separate from it, including grief, relationships, and major transitions.
Interwoven with these personal narratives are wide-ranging discussions in physics and adjacent ideas: perspectives on what physics “is” (tool, language, philosophy), references to major concepts in modern physics, and accessible explorations of astronomy and cosmology topics such as extraterrestrial life questions and how scientific ideas are portrayed in popular media. The podcast also makes room for broader philosophical and social debates—religion and atheism, spirituality and meaning-making through science, morality and objectivity, ethics and informed consent, education and parenting, and the role of science in society—often approached through the lens of critical thinking and personal deconstruction.
