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Many doctoral learners measure success by grades, milestones, and how quickly they finish. But what if progress looks different than we think?

In this episode, Dr. Amanda Cason shares how her definition of success evolved throughout her doctoral journey. Together, we explore the challenges of comparison, the emotional weight of feedback, the importance of trusting yourself, and the lasting influence of a supportive dissertation chair. Dr. Cason reminds us that some of the most meaningful progress happens long before anyone else can see it.

Whether you're just beginning your doctorate or deep in the dissertation process, this conversation offers encouragement to stay focused on your own journey, one step at a time.

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What if the biggest obstacle in your doctoral journey isn't your research, your committee, or your schedule—but the voice in your own head? Join TiffianyAnn Lundine and author Dr. Suzanne Uhl as they explore practical tools for overcoming self-doubt, quieting the inner critic, and moving beyond perfectionism and fear. This encouraging conversation will help you recognize what's holding you back and remind you that you are more capable than you think.

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In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, Dr. TiffianyAnn Lundine talks with Dr. Miguel Rubio about mindfulness, mental health, and academic performance during the doctoral journey.

Dr. Rubio shares his personal story of navigating financial hardship, immigration, parenting during COVID, and the pressures of doctoral education while exploring how mindfulness can support focus, resilience, and self-awareness. Together, they discuss academic stress, productivity, perception, and why the doctoral journey often becomes a process of self-exploration as much as scholarship.

This conversation is reflective, honest, and especially meaningful for learners trying to remain grounded while navigating demanding academic work.

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Doctoral work is often described as isolating, overwhelming, and deeply personal. But what happens when someone truly understands the journey alongside you?

In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, Drs. Noreen Hobayan and Carolyn Peters share how an unexpected partnership during the dissertation phase became a lifeline through discouragement, revisions, leadership changes, self-doubt, and exhaustion. What began as simple Zoom study sessions evolved into a powerful source of accountability, friendship, emotional support, and persistence.

Together, they reflect on what it means to keep showing up for yourself, and for someone else, during one of the most demanding academic journeys a person can experience.

This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most important part of finishing is finding someone who gets it.

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Choosing a dissertation topic can feel overwhelming. I certainly felt like I had to get it exactly "right".

In this episode, Dr. Tim Newman and I move away from the pressure of finding the perfect topic and instead explore how to choose one that can actually carry you through the doctoral journey. We talk about alignment, purpose, feasibility, and why your “why” matters more than anything else.

This conversation is for you If you’ve been stuck, second-guessing, or waiting for clarity. Hopefully it will help you think differently about what it really means to choose a dissertation topic.

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In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, TiffianyAnn Lundine sits down with Dr. Sheldon Greaves, author of The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook, to explore what it means to pursue rigorous intellectual work both inside and beyond the academy.

Together, they discuss how doctoral education shapes scholarly identity, why curiosity often fades, and how learning can unintentionally become transactional. Dr. Greaves introduces the idea of guerrilla scholarship—the pursuit of meaningful intellectual work without waiting for institutional permission.

The conversation also explores the importance of reflection, intellectual humility, and creating space for ideas to grow. For doctoral learners navigating exhaustion, isolation, and the pressure to finish, this episode offers a powerful reminder: scholarship does not belong only to institutions—it belongs to anyone willing to stay curious and keep asking better questions.

The Guerrilla Scholar's Handbook, available on Amazon.

https://amzn.to/4114Sd6

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Most doctoral learners don’t leave because they aren’t capable. They leave because something deeper has gone unnamed.

In this reflective conversation, Dr. John Wade and I explore what lies beneath the research question, such as misaligned expectations, identity shifts, feedback fatigue, and the quiet tension between persistence and purpose.

We discuss why the dissertation phase feels different from coursework, how meaning sustains momentum, and why staying with a hard question can shape who you become.

If you’re in the trenches questioning your progress, your topic, or yourself, this episode invites you to pause and consider the question beneath the question.

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What does it really take to finish a dissertation from a Dissertation Chair's perspective?

In this episode of Dissertating: In the Trenches and Behind the Scenes, host TiffianyAnn Lundine sits down with Dr. Alison Pattison and Dr. Lori Wieters, co-authors of the book, From Research to Reality, for an honest and grounding conversation about the realities doctoral learners face.

Together, they unpack burnout, guilt around rest, sustainable progress, and the often-misunderstood dynamics of working with a dissertation committee. Drawing from their own doctoral journeys and years of supporting doctoral learners, Dr. Pattison and Dr. Wieters share practical guidance, mindset shifts, and real stories that remind listeners they are not alone or behind.

This episode is a reality check every doctoral learner needs: compassionate, practical, and rooted in what actually helps people finish.

Book: From Research to Reality

Available through Amazon: https://a.co/d/75IK34M and Barnes and Noble

Research to Reality Community: A collaborative group of doctoral learners, graduates, and faculty who have one common goal -- to finish!

https://the-research-to-reality-community.mn.co/share/lYIBHexW1u-i3Wzs?utm_source=manual