TrueSciPhi

Podcast Profile: The Academic Imperfectionist

Site • RSS • Apple Podcasts
107 episodes
2020 to 2025
Median: 18 minutes
Collection: Philosophy

Description (podcaster-provided):

The Academic Imperfectionist combines philosophical analysis and coaching insights to help you dump perfectionism and flourish on your own terms. Your host is Dr Rebecca Roache, a coach and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of London.

Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):

➤ Philosophical analysis • Overcoming perfectionism • Writing and productivity tips • Academic challenges • Self-improvement insights • Guest expert interviews • Mental health in academia • Balancing work-life demands

The podcast "The Academic Imperfectionist," hosted by Dr. Rebecca Roache, offers a unique blend of philosophical insights and practical coaching aimed at helping listeners overcome perfectionism and find success on their own terms. The content often centers on themes of self-improvement, the struggle with perfectionism, productivity in academic and personal life, and the quest for work-life balance. Dr. Roache frequently invites guest experts to discuss a range of topics, from battling burnout and dealing with writing anxiety to the psychological pitfalls of "hope labour" and the dangers of self-comparison.

In addition to these guest interviews, the host explores persistent personal and professional challenges faced by academics and professionals alike, including strategies for dealing with procrastination, understanding and leveraging one's unique strengths, and embracing the value of rest and hobbies. Philosophical perspectives, such as those from Socrates, Immanuel Kant, and Plato, are often introduced to challenge common assumptions about willpower, motivation, and the nature of success.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on personal habits and attitudes, reconsider the misconceptions around productivity, and adopt a more self-compassionate approach to both their professional objectives and personal well-being. The podcast also examines broader societal and cultural factors that influence professional life, such as the myth of work-life balance and the pressures to continually strive for achievement. Overall, this podcast serves as a guide for navigating the complex landscape of personal efficacy, academic achievement, and emotional resilience.

Episodes:

#106: Do you know how much you can control?
2025-Mar-21
22 minutes

#105: Professor John Sellars on how to live like a Stoic
2025-Mar-07
76 minutes

#104: Kate Ahl on what academics talk about in therapy
2025-Feb-21
86 minutes

#103: Tony Stubblebine (CEO of Medium) on how to find, build, and engage your audience
2025-Feb-07
71 minutes

#102: Professor Stephanie Dunson on levelling up your writing process
2025-Jan-24
75 minutes

#101: Professors Thomas S. Mullaney and Christopher Rea on the absolute basics of doing research
2025-Jan-10
80 minutes

#100: What I've learned about perfectionism
2024-Dec-13
23 minutes

#99: Hey! What you reading for?
2024-Nov-29
22 minutes

#98: Guest interview! Dr Debbie Sorensen on battling burnout
2024-Nov-15
74 minutes

#97: When failure of inspiration strikes
2024-Nov-01
26 minutes

#96: Guest interview! Dr David Brax on the dangers and inequalities of 'hope labour'
2024-Oct-18
65 minutes

#95: The perfectionism-busting power of hobbies
2024-Oct-04
32 minutes

#94: Postcard from the Costa del Burnout
2024-Sep-20
21 minutes

Announcement!
2024-Sep-06
1 minute

#93: Guest interview! Professor Joli Jensen on draining the drama from writing
2024-Aug-23
68 minutes

#92: Your writing-anxiety Sliding Doors moment
2024-Aug-09
23 minutes

#91: Sartre, 3pm, and writing off writing days
2024-Jul-26
24 minutes

#90: The surprising productivity of rest
2024-Jul-12
19 minutes

#89: Doubting your willpower is holding you back
2024-Jun-28
19 minutes

#88: How to be a quitter
2024-Jun-14
18 minutes

#87: You're overlooking your unique value
2024-May-31
20 minutes

#86: Every Academic Imperfectionist episode, summarised
2024-May-17
19 minutes

#85: The fundamental attribution error is ruining your life
2024-May-03
15 minutes

#84: The underappreciated value of waiting for success
2024-Apr-19
20 minutes

#83: How to be happy
2024-Apr-05
23 minutes

#82: Stop policing yourself
2024-Mar-22
19 minutes

#81: Are you trying to live a final draft life?
2024-Mar-08
19 minutes

#80: What are you so afraid of?
2024-Feb-23
16 minutes

#79: My imperfect but adequate working day
2024-Feb-09
28 minutes

#78: Fix your self-compassion with the metaphysics of personal identity (and an Aeropress)
2024-Jan-26
24 minutes

#77: Mediocrity is underrated!
2024-Jan-12
16 minutes

#76: This is what positive change feels like
2023-Dec-08
23 minutes

#75: Your progress tunnel vision
2023-Nov-24
18 minutes

#74: When taking on more can energise you
2023-Nov-10
16 minutes

#73: How to practise being instead of doing
2023-Oct-27
18 minutes

#72: Bend so you don't break: a stress survival guide
2023-Oct-13
18 minutes

#71: The best time to write is the worst time to write
2023-Sep-29
20 minutes

#70: How to write
2023-Sep-15
29 minutes

#69: How to read
2023-Sep-01
28 minutes

#68: Plato (and Barbie) on perfection
2023-Aug-18
18 minutes

#67: You owe your success to your flaws
2023-Aug-04
18 minutes

#66: The only productivity hack you need
2023-Jul-21
21 minutes

#65: Reflections on a recent failure
2023-Jul-07
19 minutes

#64: Reject work/life balance!
2023-Jun-23
17 minutes

#63: In defence of your comfort zone
2023-Jun-09
17 minutes

#62: Guilt! Guilt! Guilt!
2023-May-26
16 minutes

#61: Your productivity standards are like a 1980s fad diet
2023-May-12
20 minutes

#60: Self-acceptance or self-improvement?
2023-Apr-28
17 minutes

#59: Hold your nose and do the scary thing
2023-Apr-14
21 minutes

#58: When you're doing everything everywhere all at once
2023-Mar-31
19 minutes

#57: Understanding your productivity shame
2023-Mar-17
21 minutes

#56: You're not weak-willed, according to Socrates
2023-Mar-03
19 minutes

#55: Inertia and your overthinking dick brain
2023-Feb-17
19 minutes

#54: Soothe the overwhelm with the 1% question
2023-Feb-03
16 minutes

#53: When happiness tanks your productivity
2023-Jan-20
14 minutes

#52: Hack your fear of failure
2023-Jan-06
15 minutes

#51: Is looking after yourself just another thing to fail at?
2022-Dec-16
15 minutes

#50: You hate doing it because you think you're doing it wrong
2022-Dec-02
16 minutes

#49: Say no to FOMO
2022-Nov-18
13 minutes

#48: Stop trying to run a marathon at sprint pace
2022-Nov-04
15 minutes

#47: Is your life story dragging you down?
2022-Oct-21
13 minutes

#46: How to ace job interviews
2022-Oct-07
25 minutes

#45: Consistency is important, but what is it?
2022-Sep-23
19 minutes

#44: The idea of 'quiet quitting' is dangerous
2022-Sep-09
16 minutes

#43: You don't know how you're feeling
2022-Aug-26
18 minutes

#42: Are you waiting for permission?
2022-Aug-12
19 minutes

#41: Dealing with uncool emotions: envy, jealousy, resentment
2022-Jul-29
22 minutes

#40: Why I took SO BLOODY LONG to write my book
2022-Jul-15
25 minutes

#39: 'Thick' ethical concepts and your sneaky inner critic
2022-Jul-01
21 minutes

#38: Freud, sublimation, and your toxic attachment to your inner critic
2022-Jun-17
15 minutes

#37: You should spend more time thinking about your anxiety
2022-Jun-03
17 minutes

#36: What if it doesn't need to be so hard?
2022-May-20
21 minutes

#35: Why am I putting off doing that ridiculously undemanding thing?
2022-May-06
20 minutes

#34: In praise of half heartedness
2022-Apr-22
14 minutes

#33: I'm supposed to be doing what I love - what's gone wrong?
2022-Apr-01
18 minutes

#32: You need a mindset audit
2022-Mar-18
19 minutes

#31: Hedonism and other paradoxes
2022-Mar-04
18 minutes

#30: Rejection stings less when you channel your inner toddler
2022-Feb-18
20 minutes

#29: You need to date your career choices, not marry them
2022-Feb-04
19 minutes

#28: Moore's paradox: When what you believe about yourself doesn't make sense
2022-Jan-21
17 minutes

#27: Your new year resolutions survival guide
2022-Jan-07
16 minutes

#26: Why writing is like sleeping
2021-Dec-10
20 minutes

#25: You don't know what 'success' means until you know who you are
2021-Nov-26
17 minutes

#24: Your inner critic is not a videogame boss
2021-Nov-12
14 minutes

#23: The way you're trying to motivate yourself is all wrong
2021-Oct-29
16 minutes

#22: Dealing with uncertainty
2021-Oct-15
20 minutes

#21: Let's talk about lists, plans, and goals
2021-Oct-01
14 minutes

#20: Don't just write it - ferment it!
2021-Sep-17
17 minutes

#19: Not writing is an essential part of writing
2021-Sep-03
18 minutes

#18: There is no such thing as self-sabotage
2021-Aug-20
16 minutes

#17: The importance of wasting your time
2021-Aug-06
16 minutes

#16: Stop moving your goalposts
2021-Jul-23
15 minutes

#15: Help! I have brain fog!
2021-Jul-09
15 minutes

#14: Become your own biggest advocate, with Immanuel Kant
2021-Jun-25
14 minutes

#13: How to work as efficiently as you procrastinate
2021-Jun-11
18 minutes

#12: Delete your scarcity mindset
2021-May-28
16 minutes

#11: Why you have impostor syndrome, and what to do about it: remembering Katherine Hawley
2021-May-14
19 minutes

#10: Dealing with your inner reviewer 2
2021-Apr-30
17 minutes

#9: Cancel your productivity anxiety
2021-Apr-16
17 minutes

#8: The nostalgia illusion
2021-Apr-02
12 minutes

#7: How can I flourish in an unjust world?
2021-Mar-19
13 minutes

#6: Live the dream!
2021-Mar-05
13 minutes

#5: Bitch, do you even dream?
2021-Feb-19
15 minutes

#4: How to hack your assertiveness with Aristotle
2021-Feb-05
17 minutes

#3: Rage against the positivity
2020-Oct-30
16 minutes

#2: But I haven't earned a rest!
2020-Oct-20
16 minutes

#1: Toxic gratitude
2020-Oct-16
13 minutes