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In this solo episode of Mentoring Matters, Dr. Stephanie Hansen shares how she approaches the start of a new semester with plans that actually survive reality. Instead of chasing perfection, she focuses on building sustainable systems: protecting time for deep thinking work, stress-testing your calendar, and breaking big goals into small, repeatable processes.

She also tackles common faculty pain points, from mentoring high-achieving grad students who struggle with perfectionism to setting realistic thesis and dissertation timelines before panic season hits. Along the way, she shares practical tools she uses to keep projects moving when the semester gets chaotic, including a Kanban approach and structured accountability.

Finally, she talks attention and technology: reducing social media and phone distraction, and helping students become AI-capable without cognitively offloading their education. The goal isn’t flawless performance — it’s growth, resilience, and progress you can sustain.

If you are interested in having Steph or Mary do a workshop on graduate mentoring at your institution please reach out to Steph at slhansen@iastate.edu

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook now!

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review, and join us over on Twitter to let us know what topics you'd like to hear more about.

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Steph is back for another solo episode, continuing The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map series. This time she digs into why culture isn’t fluff—it’s strategy.

You’ll hear how an abundance mindset shapes behavior, why fostering mutual support increases grit, and how team-building (yes, even a group hike) creates shared identity that lasts through the hard stuff. From ice cream to paper bags, Steph shares real examples from her lab and how you can build a culture that runs itself, even when you're out of town.

Whether you’re building a new group or strengthening a veteran team, this episode offers practical ways to create a culture that sticks.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook now!

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review, and join us over on Twitter to let us know what topics you'd like to hear more about.

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Steph is back for another solo episode, drawing from The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map. This time focusing on helping grad students believe they can get better—and making sure they know what "better" even looks like.

We talk growth mindset, how to normalize mistakes as part of the process, and why “kind is clear” isn’t just a Brene Brown soundbite—it’s a foundational mentoring principle. If your students are floundering, unclear expectations might be the root. Let’s fix that.

Whether you're onboarding someone new or trying to re-align mid-program, this episode gives you practical language and mindset shifts you can use right away.

For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook now!

If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review, and join us over on Twitter to let us know what topics you'd like to hear more about.