Episodes

Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis! This week, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Kirsten “Kiki” Sanford, a science communicator with an unconventional path from bird neuroscience to the front lines of science storytelling. In this episode, Dr. Kiki shares behind-the-scenes stories of launching “This Week in Science,” collaborating with mentors like Leo Laporte, and mastering new technologies – much of it self-taught. She reflects on the real-world skills her PhD provided, the power of embracing change, and gives practical advice for anyone looking to turn obstacles into launching pads for new opportunities.
Whether you’re at a crossroads in your career or searching for inspiration to forge your own path, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives. Tune in and get ready to rethink what’s possible after a PhD!
Kirsten Sanford is a passionate science communicator whose journey began in graduate school, where she studied bird brains and discovered her love for sharing science with others. Today, she juggles multiple roles: producing her own podcasts and telling engaging science stories, running a production company that creates videos and scripts for scientists, and helping to unite fellow science communicators through her work with Science Talk. Through these varied projects, Kirsten is dedicated to making science accessible and exciting for everyone.
Key take-home messages:
Embrace Lifelong Learning: Dr. Kiki taught herself audio/video editing, production tech, and business management. Being open to learning new skills—even outside your academic training—can open new doors in unexpected fields.
Leverage Your Research Skills: Project management, adaptability, and perseverance aren’t just academic buzzwords. These are vital, transferable skills that help you thrive in entrepreneurship and content production.
Build and Nurture Your Network: Attending conferences and connecting with mentors (even outside your original field) led Dr. Sanford to collaborations and opportunities that fueled her passion projects.
If you’re ready to transform setbacks into stepping stones and chart your own unique path, Dr. Kiki Sanford’s journey is a must-listen!
Check out her work at This Week in Science (TWIS) and be inspired by a career that truly goes beyond the thesis.
Connect with Us: Have you thought about pivoting from the bench to broader impact? Would love to hear your stories below!
This episode’s links:
Dr. Kiki Sanford | Instagram
This Week In Science | Podcast
Association of Science Communicators | Website
Episode Transcript
David Mendes:
Are you struggling to find your path to pivot from academia to entrepreneurship? On this new episode of Papa Ph.D. gold, Dr. Kiki Sanford shares the details of her journey from neurophysiology research to science communication. She opens up about the twists, challenges, and breakthroughs of building a fulfilling career on her own terms. So if you’re ready to transform setbacks into stepping stones and to craft your own unique path, listen now to get inspired and take action. Welcome to beyond the thesis with Papa PhD. Your weekly inspiration for post PhD career development with me, David Mendez. What steps brought you from your PhD to TWIS, to This Week in Science?
Kirsten Sanford:
After my PhD, I finished and I was like, okay, this is what I’m doing now. I’m going to be a science communicator. I’m going to try and re. And this is before science communicator was really even a term or a word. It was like this nascent idea. People were starting to use it, but it wasn’t really adopted yet. I remember going, what am I? Who am I? How do I describe myself to people? And yeah, thank goodness Science Communicator has grabbed a hold. But what I started doing is I started going to conferences and networking and trying to meet a larger community of people doing a similar thing. So podcasting. I no longer going to the science conferences, the research conferences so much. I started going to the podcasting conferences and doing the podcasting conferences. I started meeting a whole bunch of people in that field. And again, with mentors being so important, I met a guy named Alex Lindsey, and he worked on a podcast called this Week in Tech. And so I was at this podcasting conference and I saw his name tag with his podcast name, and I went up to him and I said, hey, you’re this Week in Tech. I’m this Week in Science. And he said, hey. And we started talking. And that led to a collaboration, doing a video program. And this is right at the beginning of itunes starting to offer video podcasts. It wasn’t even YouTube, wasn’t even a huge deal yet. And we did a series called Food Science. And I, we created 14 videos related to various aspects of food science. It was super fun. And along that way, I. That was again, getting to use my, you know, my video production skills. I was writing scripts, I was doing the hosting. So I learned how to do more on camera work through that.
David Mendes:
Okay.
Kirsten Sanford:
And in that effort, he introduced me to the host of and the founder of this Week in Tech, Leo Laporte. And Leo Laporte. Then this is kind of step by step, Leo laporte said, hey, do you want to come do some stuff with Twit? And said, hey, that’d be great. And so I started doing some work with this Week in tech, commentating on certain things, doing a little bit more tech reporting instead of specifically Science. So TWIS was a podcast. We were still at KBBS doing the radio show. That’s it. So, but I, because I had finished, I moved back to San Francisco. I was no longer. So I kind of bounced back and forth between Davis and San Francisco. And I was like, okay, we got to keep TWIS going. The podcast format is amazing. I love live radio. I love live. How can we keep that happening? And so, because I had met Leo, he was doing live streaming on his TWIT video network. And I asked him if we could use his network to broadcast this week in Science.And so that’s. We made the move from live on KDBS Davis to live on twit. And we became a video stream, a live video program. And I’d take the audio and then I would send the audio to KDBS and I would put the audio up as a podcast. And so we started distributing in these different ways. You know, I kept working on different video shows and then expanded my work on the TWIT network. And I started doing an interview program called Dr. Kiki Science Hour, which I did about a hundred episodes, just over a hundred episodes, I believe. And TWIS was going the whole time. And then at a certain point, TWIT was expanding, but then they decided they really needed to. They needed to pare themselves down. And so they got rid of all third party produced programs, which meant TWIS had to find a new home, we had to find a new platform. Google Hangouts was just becoming a thing. We took advantage of Google Hangouts and started broadcasting TWIS to YouTube live.
David Mendes:
Live to YouTube.
Kirsten Sanford:
And then this summer, Google Hangouts went away and we found a new platform. And now we are using a platform called Streamyard to broadcast to YouTube. But we have visions now of expanding to Twitch. And I’m. Yeah, we, we. I’m trying to develop the funding model to be able to expand the number of programs that we offer. And that’s where I am right now, because I want to go back to doing more interview shows. So now I’m looking outward at doing more. More production myself and expanding TWIS. But TWIS just did our 740th estimated podcast episode. I mean, yeah, in terms, that’s estimating that we started officially podcasting on iTunes in 2005, basing it on about 50 episodes a year, our estimate of about where we are, we can hit 800 next year. Yeah, and we’re super excited about that. But I mean, in reality we’ve been like, you know, pretty much nonstop since 99, 2000, so it’s huge.
David Mendes:
And like now you’ve, you know, you’ve, you’re telling me your story and I’m just, you know, starting to get this, this picture of how much you’ve had to learn in this because you know, in this domain of producing content, of dealing with distribution platforms, how did you go about, did you, are you self taught in all of this? Were there like apart from the AAS program that you fellowship? Yeah, yeah, the mass media fellowship. Apart from that, was there other training that you felt was necessary that you get to be able to step it up in terms of, you know, taking grasp of these technologies or how did you go about getting this?
Kirsten Sanford:
Yeah, so all of it. I am self taught. I have paid attention to people. So all of the editors I’ve ever worked with, I watched them as they were editing. I paid attention to what they were doing and asked questions as we were setting up cameras and lights to do the shoot. Even though I wasn’t the camera person or the lighting person or the sound person, I paid attention and I asked questions. Every time I’ve done something, I try to be involved and engaged in what I’m doing and not just. I’ve really tried to not just be focused on my one little part of a project, to pay attention to how it fits in with the other aspects of the project as a whole. And so in doing that, now, you know, I’ve self taught. I’m not the best editor, but I have been editing my own audio for years. I edit video now. I can work as the production tech, I can set up the sound and I can make a recording. I can be a single individual going out, recording an interview, come back, edit it and put out a final product. I taught myself how to do that. The things that I have also taught myself how to do, which I think I gained more experience in as a graduate student, are the business management aspects. Because you, I mean, I’m still terrible at time management. I am a scatterbrain and I always, I’ve always been one of those people who work great under pressure and it would be better if I could organize myself better because then I wouldn’t like a little ball of nerves all the time error. But I do think that a lot of how I’ve been able to organize What I do organize is the skills that I learned while I was in graduate school in starting a project, finishing a project, writing it up, you know, all the project management skills that go so unacknowledged.
David Mendes:
Yeah, that’s one of the big things that I like to try and dispel. One of the myths or the popular beliefs about doing a PhD is that if you don’t fall into academia, then you don’t have skills. You will have lost that time because you didn’t develop real world skills, let’s say. And it’s totally not true. And I’m super happy that you’re mentioning that because it’s not everyone that can hop onto a three year, five year, seven year project without sweating it and taking it to the last stage and defending and concluding it and presenting it. So definitely, I agree 200%.
Kirsten Sanford:
And I think I, you know, the other really unacknowledged skill is, you know, like I’m like I was able to pick things up and still try to pick new things up even though I have this like, oh my God, this is another thing I have to learn. This technology is, you know, because technology is always moving forward. Oh, I have to learn this new skill. I have to do this new thing that is grad school. Every time you want to add a new technique to your studies to be able to ask a certain question, you learn something new. I mean, it is this mindset you learn while a student that you can always learn something.
David Mendes:
Thank you for listening to this new episode of season six of beyond the Theses with Papa PhD. Have a question about this interview? Want to leave a comment on the podcast comment? Have someone you want to recommend to be interviewed? Go to speakpipe.com/papaphd and leave me a voice note. Just hit the big record button and leave me an up to 90 second message. I listen to all my messages and I consider all of them for feature on future episodes. So it’s speakpipe.com papaphd Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you, Dr. Kiki!
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You might also like the following episodes:
Papa PhD Gold – The Benefits of Science Communication With Elodie Chabrol
Papa PhD Gold – Four Practices You Must Learn From Gig Workers With Sue Ashford
Jessica Schleider – Dealing With Mental Unrest in Graduate School
Melissa Gismondi – The Power of Graduate Internships

Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Bienvenue dans cette nouvelle Pépite Papa PhD ! Dans cet excerpt de mon entrevue avec Olivier Bernard, pharmacien et vulgarisateur reconnu, il parle de comment communiquer efficacement la science, même face à la pseudoscience et aux sujets polarisants. On a parlé de l’importance de l’empathie, de la nuance et de surmonter la peur de prendre la parole publiquement. Le message à retenir : 95% des gens sont prêts à entendre la vérité, alors ose partager tes connaissances et prends ta place dans la discussion scientifique. À très vite pour une nouvelle dose d’inspiration !
Olivier Bernard est un communicateur scientifique passionné par le partage du savoir et l’engagement du milieu académique dans la société. Après avoir constaté que la diffusion des connaissances demeure peu valorisée dans le monde universitaire, il s’est donné pour mission d’encourager ses collègues, en particulier les jeunes chercheurs, à prendre la parole dans l’espace public, malgré leurs doutes et les craintes face aux sujets polarisants. Lui-même a développé ses compétences en communication en acceptant toutes les occasions de s’exprimer dans des émissions, des chroniques ou des podcasts, convaincu que l’aisance s’acquiert par l’expérience. Aujourd’hui, il milite pour que la vulgarisation scientifique soit reconnue, et inspire les universitaires à surmonter leurs hésitations pour participer activement au dialogue public.
Points à retenir :
Osez prendre la parole : Même lorsque vous débutez, chaque voix compte. Dire « oui » aux invitations à des podcasts, chroniques ou émissions permet de gagner de l’aisance et de la légitimité en communication.
Privilégiez l’empathie et la nuance : Faire preuve de compréhension envers les personnes possédant des croyances erronées ouvre la voie à des échanges constructifs, plutôt qu’à la confrontation.
Gardez en tête l’impact positif : 95% du public apprécie l’accès à une information claire et vraie, même si une minorité bruyante résiste. Ne laissez pas cette minorité freiner votre envie de partager la science !
Pourquoi écouter cet épisode ? Ces conseils sont précieux, surtout quand il s’agit de débattre autour de la pseudoscience ou du climat, sujets si importants et pourtant si souvent controversés. Envoie-nous tes commentaires : Vous souhaitez réagir à cet épisode ou proposer un(e) invité(e) pour une prochaine entrevue ? Rien de plus simple : rendez-vous sur speakpipe.com/papaphd pour enregistrer un court message vocal. Nous avons hâte de vous entendre ! Passe à l’écoute : Ne manque pas cet épisode captivant et suis “Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD” sur ton application préférée pour ne jamais rater une occasion d’apprendre davantage sur la réalité du marché du travail après le doctorat. Écoute cette pépite maintenant et laisse-toi inspirer par le parcours de Manon!
Liens de l'épisode
Olivier Bernard | Site Web
Olivier Bernard | Instagram
Transcription de l'épisode
David Mendes:
Salut. Dans cette nouvelle pépite papa PHD, je t’apporte une partie de mon entrevue avec Olivier Bernard, pharmacien et vulgarisateur scientifique reconnu pour son combat contre la pseudoscience. On discute de l’importance de la communication, de l’humour pour rendre la science accessible et surtout de l’impact qu’on peut avoir même quand ça semble difficile. Le message, osez communiquer, soyez nuancé et rappelez-vous, la majorité des gens sont prêts à entendre la vérité. Bonne écoute. Bienvenue sur au-delà de la thèse avec papa PHT. Ton inspiration hebdomadaire pour le développement de carrière après le doctorat. Avec moi, David Mendes.
David Mendes:
J’aimerais quand même un peu maintenant apporter un un peu de de ton expérience et faire le parallèle avec des jeunes chercheurs qui sont maintenant en train de faire leur doctorat ou leur maîtrise et qui ont un peu ce désir de, par exemple, combattre la pseudo science en lien avec le climat. Ce que j’aimerais, ce serait de poser la question de comment est-ce que tu te positionnes en tant que jeune chercheur dans ce type de conversation souvent qui sont polémiques et et c’est quoi des bons principes pour des fois dans des conversations qui peuvent avoir l’air un peu perdues déjà au départ de quand même avoir des résultats positifs et de pas juste se frustrer ou ou se fâcher. C’est quoi des des bons principes pour être dans une conversation avec quelqu’un que tu sais qui est comme un sceptique ou ou qui a une pseudo croyant une croyance, une fausse croyance très enracinée. Est-ce que tu en as appris au cours de ces années
Olivier Bernard:
Oui, j’ai tellement de choses à dire là-dessus. Je vais essayer de je vais essayer de résumer tout ça puis en particulier parce que là tu me poses la question par rapport à des jeunes chercheurs chercheuses des gens qui seraient au doctorat ou au post-doctorat par exemple ou même des des jeunes chercheurs qui sont demandés mais j’ai envie de commencer ça. Bon premièrement on le sait là le le les gens du milieu académique ça fait partie de la mission académique de diffuser le savoir donc c’est pas très valorisé malheureusement c’est pas ça qui donne des de t’investir sur la place publique, de participer à des podcasts, ce n’est pas ça qui fait que tu as des demandes de que tu as plus de subventions et plus de bourses malheureusement, mais on le sait que ça fait partie de la mission académique de le faire. Moi, je le sens quand je parle à des gens du milieu académique, des universitaires, je sens un désir il y a beaucoup de gens qui aimeraient ça pouvoir parler et il rencontre certaines barrières la première étant je sais pas comment faire je suis peut-être pas assez bon je suis peut-être pas assez bonne ça j’adresse ça rapidement moi il faut que je convainque souvent les gens que oui ils sont assez bons il faut souvent là que je me batte avec les gens là en disant comme oui non regarde je te dis que tu es capable go donc des fois les gens ont besoin de vaincre cette espèce de résistance là puis la faire aussi c’est que si on cessait pas on deviendra jamais bon c’est devenir un bon communicateur une bonne communicatrice exprimée bien c’est quelque chose qu’on développe par l’expérience donc si vous avez des invitations à des podcasts vous avez des invitations à des émissions à faire des chroniques des télé radio sur le web dites oui à tout moi c’est ça que j’ai fait personnellement au début je disais oui à tout qui était dans mon champ de compétences puis c’est comme ça que j’ai développé une certaine aisance deuxième chose c’est sûr qu’aujourd’hui ça fait un peu peur de parler de certains sujets sur la place publique il y a beaucoup de sujets qui sont polarisants qui sont délicats et puis ça je comprends complètement je comprends complètement des universitaires de dire ça j’ai pas envie de m’embarquer là-dedans moi il y a des gens que je contacte puis qui me disent j’aimerais vraiment ça pouvoir faire une entrevue avec toi là-dessus mais j’ai peur des conséquences que ça va avoir sur j’ai peur des qui est du backlash des choses comme ça.
David Mendes:
Est-ce qu’il va apparaître dans ma boîte courriel tout à coup
Olivier Bernard:
Ouais. Ben moi il y a déjà un chercheur qui m’a dit que un de ses collègues s’était fait crever ses pneus de voiture quand il y avait parlé d’un sujet en particulier sur lequel je lui demandais de parler il m’a dit je vais le faire mais je te dirais je te cacherai pas que j’ai peur tu sais je pense qu’en ce moment c’est un nouveau phénomène mais je pense qu’il faut pas non plus comment dire il faut il faut quand même s’investir il faut ceci puis il y a moyen puis je le dis là moi ça fait 10 ans que je fais ça j’ai dit des choses vraiment là que maintenant je leur dirais pas les choses de la même façon parce que je me rends compte que ça a fâché des gens que c’était pas la bonne manière de m’y prendre garde un moment donné là il y a moyen de le faire il y a moyen de se positionner sur des sujets qui sont délicats on peut le faire d’une manière nuancée je pense que la clé parce que tu me demandais comment le faire je pense que la clé là c’est que il faut l’aborder avec beaucoup d’empathie puis de compréhension pour l’autre c’est à dire que moi puis moi j’ai encore une fois j’ai commencé comme ça en 2012 là j’étais vraiment comme telle croyance c’est faux pour telle raison puis les gens qui croient ça ben ils devraient pas croire à ça c’est pas une bonne façon de faire c’est on le voit dans la recherche là d’y aller par une méthode qui est confrontationnelle ça marche pas donc je pense qu’au départ il faut aborder la question sous l’angle de et moi là cette croyance là imperistante dans l’espace public ça m’intéresse je me demande pourquoi les gens croient à ça je comprends aussi pourquoi les gens croient ça je pense que c’est normal c’est quand j’ai lu j’ai lu ça c’est normal d’avoir des doutes normal d’être inquiet aussi d’avoir des inquiétudes de dire aussi qu’il y a un fond de vérité souvent c’est rare qu’il y a des croyances qui ont complètement fausses puis qu’il y a absolument rien de vrai il y a souvent des choses vraies puis après à travers ça il y a des choses qui sont peut-être un peu exagérées donc de le présenter plus sous cet angle là plutôt que d’arriver juste en disant c’est faux pour la raison suivante moi personnellement quand j’ai vu des gens faire ça quand moi je l’ai fait généralement ça se passe bien c’est ça la réalité c’est quatre-vingt-quinze pour 100 des gens sont toujours très heureux d’avoir accès à la bonne information puis je pense que le 5 de gens qui sont toujours très mécontents si on a tendance à mettre beaucoup de focus là-dessus ou d’avoir peur ou tout ça je pense pas que c’est la bonne approche
David Mendes:
et 95 c’est déjà très bon en effet
Olivier Bernard:
C’est un chiffre approximatif, là. J’utilise souvent ce chiffre-là 95/5, là. Quatre-vingt-quinze pourcent des gens sont contents mais le 5 pourcent qui sont pas contents, ils font quatre-vingt-quinze pour 100 du bruit là.
David Mendes:
Ah oui c’est ça c’est ça
Olivier Bernard:
Mais ça, il faut il faut toujours se ramener à la plupart des gens sont très contents en ce moment qu’on puisse parler de ça.
David Mendes:
Merci d’avoir écouté ce nouvel épisode de la saison 6 d’au-delà de la thèse avec papa PHP. Tu as une question sur cette entrevue Tu veux laisser un commentaire sur le balado Tu veux recommander quelqu’un pour une autre entrevue Rends-toi sur speak pipe point com slash papa phd et laisse-moi un message vocal. Clique sur le gros bouton enregistrer et laisse-moi un message de jusqu’à quatre-vingt-dix secondes. Je les écoute tous et je les considère tous pour passer sur des épisodes à venir. Encore une fois c’est speak pipe point com slash papa PHD. Bien d’entendre ta voix.
Merci Olivier !
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Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Welcome to this new episode of Papa PhD Gold! Here’s the big takeaway from this excerpt from my conversation with scientific writing expert Anna Clemens: Selling isn’t a dirty word in academia – it’s all about communicating your research in a way that connects with people, even if they aren’t specialists in your field. If you approach editors, funders, or stakeholders with clarity, enthusiasm, and a strong story, you’re not being sleazy, you’re making your hard work accessible and impactful. So, embrace storytelling, invite others to the party, and remember: refining your message through feedback is how you truly shine.
David and Anna discuss practical strategies for pitching research effectively, tackling the stigma around self-promotion, and learning to think from the reader’s perspective—whether that’s an editor, peer reviewer, or even a potential funder. They also touch on the importance of feedback, the challenge of letting go of your favorite sentences, and how emotional reactions can stand in the way of clearer, more impactful science communication. If you’re ready to reframe how you talk about your research and embrace the skills that get your work noticed, this episode is for you.
Key take-home messages:
Selling Isn’t a Dirty Word: Selling your research is simply about communicating its value. Think of it as presenting your findings in a way that editors and broader audiences can truly see their significance, not exaggerating, but clarifying impact.
Tell the Right Story: Good storytelling (not hype!) helps you realize and highlight the true significance of your work. Pitch at the right level – especially for general editors who may not be deep in your specialty – and make your message accessible.
Embrace Feedback (and Ditch Your Darlings): Don’t get attached to specific sentences or ideas. Use peer and non-expert feedback to clarify your writing before peer review; sometimes the most clever lines aren’t the clearest ones!
If you’re looking to sharpen your academic communication and get your research noticed – for publication, funding, or public engagement – this episode is a must-listen.
This episode’s links:
Anna Clemens | Website
The Researchers’ Writing | Podcast
Episode Transcript
David Mendes:
One of the things that you mentioned that was interesting and that I think people should take note is when you are communicating with this general editor, you are not communicating with an academic. It’s someone who is working for a business. You said something that I think often is not a bad word. But anyway, it can be almost a bad word. Sell your article. You said that. And I do think people, you know, if you’re listening and this kind of give you chills hearing this, try to accept it in a way and say, in this specific framework of communicating with this person who is kind of a gatekeeper of. Does this article go to the next step or not? I need to. If it’s not you, if you’re not able to have this conversation in a less academic and more selly marketing way, maybe someone in your lab will. But I think it’s important to develop a relationship with these people where you can have a relaxed conversation and just talk. Like kind of popularizing what the article is about. This is kind of what I got from what you said, and it’s the first time I hear about it. And that’s why I kind of put a note to talk about it.
Anna Clemens:
Yeah, I love that it clicks up on that because you were right. Like, selling is the dirty word in academia. And if it makes you cringe, I mean, running my own business, I had to think about selling. I had to really examine my relationship with selling because of that. Because I come from academia as well. I have been there. I know how, like, selling and capitalism, things like that are frowned upon. And, And I mean, you know, I do agree, I do agree about. I hate bad salesmanship. But selling can also be good. Selling is not inherently bad. That’s what I want. Say if you think about, you have a problem, right? And you. Let’s say you go to the pharmacy of a skin problem and you tell them about your problem and they give you a really good product that solves your skin, I don’t know, eczema or whatever. You’re like super happy that it will help your problem and you walk away, you use the product, your skin goes better. You’re like, wow. I mean, this is selling. Selling isn’t only sleazy and bad. Telling us, basically. And I mean, I don’t talk about planning magic, actually. I talk way more about storytelling. But lots of people don’t like storytelling because they think it’s too much, it’s too salesy. And because storytelling is like, oh, it means like, oh, you’re like, exaggerating your findings, like, overstating them. And I feel like this is not the fault of selling and this is not the fault of storytelling, but this is the fault of using it the wrong way, you know, using the tool the wrong way. Like there is a way of using the tool the right way. And this is. We really try to think about where your readers at. Like, well, I always say it’s like put yourself in your reader’s shoes, think about where they’re at. Like the general editors who say they’re not an academic or they probably did like a PhD postdoc, but they’re not in academia anymore. Look up like the general editor you’re submitting to. Look up what field they’re covering and just get it like going to like think about, okay, how many research topics do they need to be able to judge? Right. Like they won’t have in depth knowledge, the same as your peer reviewers or as your like direct colleague. So just thinking about that and trying to like pitch it at a level that they will be able to understand and significant and actually often it is that we ourselves as the author haven’t really thought about the significance, you know, not in that specific way. I mean, I see this happen all the time. That thinking about what story you are telling helps you as the author to actually realize what potential impact your research could have. Because we often don’t. Like we are. Especially if you’re a PhD student, you probably struggle with this a little more because you’re so close to your research and you haven’t maybe haven’t read all the literature surrounding, you know, that maybe your PI has or someone who has been working on that topic for a longer time. I suggest just re examine, just challenge. If you feel like selling is a bad thing, just think about it a little bit. Try to challenge that thought a little bit.
David Mendes:
Yeah, Jen says, and it’s interesting. Selling is like inviting people to your party. If you don’t, nobody will come. And it’s true. You just, if you do it according to your values, it’ll be fine. It’s just that actually in that space, the academic space, some things have a bad ring to them. It’s like one thing that I’ve tried to find a new expression for is personal branding. I think this is really interesting and I think just picking up on what you said, doing this work of doing a little bit of storytelling and selling of the story of your research will also for sure have impacts on talking with stakeholders who might be funding you later on, et cetera, et cetera. So I think there’s only positives to that. Now, the other thing I picked up on that I found really, really interesting, it has to do with the peer reviewers. And you said, you know, it’s on you, to be clear. And I do remember also that with that reaction of, oh, they didn’t understand what, you know, they, you know, they didn’t understand what I wrote. There’s some frustration there that I remember seeing people getting. And I wonder, you know, I feel that getting frustrated is not the useful reaction. So like you said, these comments that might sound like they don’t know enough on the topic, they don’t get it, is kind of stopping you from actually looking at what you wrote and making it better. I feel that’s what you were saying. I was just wanting to make a point of reinforcing it because emotions can get in the way of you getting a better product at the end.
Anna Clemens:
You’re right. I mean, it really is like that. There’s actually, in general, there is a saying that is called kill your darling. Sometimes we are very in love with our own. Like, we have like a sentence or tone of phrase we really like. It happens to me all the time when I write, I’m like, I love this sentence. When you reread it or when you get feedback and you feel like, okay, it doesn’t go. It’s always the ones you like the most that unfortunately they don’t help. You know, they don’t help you get the flow you want. They don’t help you. I mean, they may be breaking the flow. They may make it unclear, or there’s like a better way of cutting it. Like, yeah, don’t be too attached to what you have written and do get feedback. I mean, it is really a process and it is a skill. So it’s a skill you need to do. Like, to develop a skill, you first need to know how to do it and then you need to practice it. Right? Like, even if someone tells you this is how you do it, I always think it’s better if you have someone who tells you how to do it, because then you kind of have a shortcut. But then once you know kind of the system or the strategy is, then practice it and get feedback. Like, have people have other people read it. Like, have your lab mate read it. I mean, your supervisor, whoever, like, read it and ask them, okay, is this clear? Like, did you follow this? Or is there any confusion? I mean, I always think it’s good to have someone read it who doesn’t know so much about your studies. You have a bit of an outside perspective, and you don’t need to give them your whole article. Just if you have points where you aren’t sure or something, you can kind of prevent getting that feedback from the peer reviewers if you do that.
Thank you, Anna Clemens!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Anna, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
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You might also like the following episodes:
Papa PhD Gold – The Benefits of Science Communication With Elodie Chabrol
Papa PhD Gold – Four Practices You Must Learn From Gig Workers With Sue Ashford
Jessica Schleider – Dealing With Mental Unrest in Graduate School
Melissa Gismondi – The Power of Graduate Internships

Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Welcome to this new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this one, host David Mendes sits down with Daria Levina, Harvard-educated lawyer, academic, author, and founder of Harvard State of Mind. Daria shares her experience navigating international graduate applications, the challenges of securing funding, and how resilience is key to overcoming academic setbacks.
Their conversation dives deep into the technical and psychological hurdles of applying to master’s and PhD programs, offering actionable advice for students worldwide. Daria describes her journey from Moscow State University to Harvard, her experience on admissions committees, and her passion for helping others find clarity and confidence in their own applications.
Daria Levina is a Harvard-educated lawyer, academic, and author, currently working on my third book in the field of cross-border trade and investment dispute resolution.
What we covered in the interview:
Daria’s Academic Journey: From law studies in Russia to Harvard and beyond; learning languages to access global opportunities.
Application Strategy: The importance of authenticity, crafting a compelling personal narrative for master’s programs, and developing research proposals for PhDs..
Common Pitfalls: Why treating the admissions process as a “lottery” hurts your chances, and the dangers of being either too impersonal or too personal in applications.
Funding Challenges: Daria’s experiences with self-funding, securing grants (including highly competitive ones), and navigating international funding landscapes.
Resilience & Mindset: Overcoming rejection, depersonalizing failure, and the value of developing perseverance—in academia and beyond.
Practical Tips: How to balance personal storytelling and professionalism in motivation letters, and why ongoing practice improves application success.
Finding Support: Building a support network, seeking help proactively, and finding encouragement in unexpected places.
Her final tip? Track the support and encouragement (even small moments!) you receive along the way — it will give you strength when things get tough.
If you’re navigating your own academic-to-industry leap, Tina’s journey proves that you’re not alone and that there’s real power in asking for help, exploring new territory, and owning your story.
See the resources section below for Daria Levina’s links!
This episode’s resources:
Harvard State of Mind | Website
Thank you, Daria Levina!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Daria, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Daria Levina a thank you message on Linkedin!
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You might also like the following episodes:
Sarah McLusky – Research Adjacent Podcast Collab
Morgan Foret – Demystifying Industry Careers
Tina Persson –Leaving Academia and Embracing Industry
Sylvie Lahaie – Navigating Stress and Anxiety in Graduate School

Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Bienvenue à ce nouvel épisode d’Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD, le podcast qui explore toutes les facettes de la vie après le doctorat !
Cette semaine, David Mendes accueille Assia Asrir, docteure en immunologie et figure engagée dans l’accompagnement des parcours scientifiques vers le secteur privé, nommément par le biais de la communauté Résalience.
Au long de la conversation, Assia partage les résultats d’une étude qu’elle a co-mené sur la perception des doctorants par les entreprises françaises du secteur des biotechnologies. Ensemble, David et Assia lèvent le voile sur les incompréhensions persistantes entre le monde académique et le privé : manque d’information, préjugés, difficulté à valoriser ses compétences ou à négocier son salaire… Assia n’élude aucune des problématiques rencontrées par les jeunes chercheurs, tout en proposant des pistes concrètes pour s’affirmer sur le marché de l’emploi et construire des ponts entre science, communication et business.
Dr. Assia Asrir est une scientifique passionnée et une communicante engagée. Après 10 ans de recherche académique en immuno-oncologie, elle occupe aujourd’hui le poste de Directrice Life Sciences au sein d’Opscidia, une startup spécialisée dans l’intelligence artificielle appliquée au traitement de l’information scientifique. En parallèle, elle met son expertise au service de la transformation des carrières scientifiques : d’abord à travers son association Résalience PhD, fondée en 2021, puis en lançant son propre cabinet de coaching, où elle accompagne les PhD dans leur transition vers le secteur privé. Son approche ultra-personnalisée permet aux chercheurs de valoriser leurs compétences et de réussir au-delà du monde académique. Convaincue que l’innovation naît de la rencontre entre science, communication et technologie, elle s’attache à créer des passerelles entre ces mondes pour ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives.
Points à retenir :
Il faut savoir mieux se vendre : L’humilité, très présente chez les docteurs, peut devenir un frein lors de la négociation salariale et des entretiens. Connaître sa valeur et savoir la défendre face aux recruteurs fait toute la différence — et impacte directement la perception (et la rémunération !) des futures cohortes.
Préparation et réseautage : Les employeurs ont encore des doutes sur la capacité des docteurs à s’adapter au secteur privé ! Il est indispensable de se renseigner sur les métiers, de développer un réseau et de comprendre la culture d’entreprise pour gagner leur confiance.
S’investir dans sa transition, c’est investir dans son futur : C’est normal d’hésiter à investir du temps et de l’argent dans un accompagnement, mais c’est un catalyseur pour décrocher l’emploi qui correspond à tes ambitions, ton expertise et tes valeurs. Prendre soin de son avenir professionnel, c’est aussi reconnaître et honorer le travail accompli pendant la thèse.
Retrouve l’épisode intégral pour des conseils pratiques, des anecdotes et des ressources pour préparer votre carrière post-thèse !
Les ressources de cet épisode :
Assia Asrir | Site Web
Merci Assia !
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Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Tina Persson, a PhD in organic chemistry turned career coach, recruiter, and author, to dive into the reality behind making the leap from academia to industry. During the conversation Tina shares her personal journey, from her PhD and climbing the academic ladder, to discovering that professorship wasn’t the right fit for her ambitions and personality.
David and Tina reflect on the unique challenges PhDs face when transitioning to the corporate world, including the crucial need to understand what companies value, and how to “sell yourself” outside of the academic bubble. Tina also discusses the importance of being coachable, building the right networks, and embracing new tools like AI. With advice rooted in firsthand experience, she reminds us that successful career transitions require strategy, self-awareness, and the courage to ask for help.
Tina Persson, Associate Professor, is an ICF-certified career, Leadership, and Team Coach with over 20 years of experience in academia and 10 years in the corporate sector. As CEO of Passage2Pro, a global educational and coaching company, she provides career coaching, leadership training, and team development for professionals in a fast-paced and AI-driven world where Innovation is a future skill.
What we covered in the interview:
Mindset Shift Is Everything: The longer you stay in academia, the harder it can be to adapt to the mindset industry expects. It’s not just about technical skills. It’s about learning to communicate your value in a new language, understanding what companies want, and positioning yourself accordingly.
Embrace Being Coachable & Adaptable: Today’s job market evolves quickly. AI and tech are reshaping roles at lightning speed. Tina’s advice? Stay coachable. Willingness to unlearn, relearn, and adapt is a superpower, especially as career pathways become less linear and more dynamic.
Don’t Undervalue Diverse Experiences: Whether it’s a “detour” into sales or a stint in recruitment, every experience adds value. Tina reflects on how roles she didn’t initially appreciate proved vital for her future as a coach and entrepreneur. Sometimes, your “side quests” become your secret strengths.
If you’re navigating your own academic-to-industry leap, Tina’s journey proves that you’re not alone and that there’s real power in asking for help, exploring new territory, and owning your story.
See the resources section below for Tina Persson’s links!
This episode’s resources:
Passage2Pro| Website
Thank you, Tina Persson!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Tina, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Tina Persson a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
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Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Sarah McLusky – Research Adjacent Podcast Collab
Morgan Foret – Demystifying Industry Careers
Rayana Luna –Navigating Medical Affairs Careers
Sylvie Lahaie – Navigating Stress and Anxiety in Graduate School

Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Welcome to this new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Morgan Foret, who brings a fresh perspective on navigating the journey from academia to industry. Morgan shares her personal story, beginning with her undergraduate studies in cell biology, an international research internship in Germany, and her PhD in pharmacology at McGill University, where she focused on Alzheimer’s disease. Now working in regulatory affairs at Thermo Fisher, Morgan discusses the realities and misconceptions of moving into industry after a PhD. Together, David and Morgan unpack the challenges she faced and the transferable skills and career strategies that helped her smoothly transition out of academia and into regulatory affairs.
Morgan Foret’s journey in science began at the University of Calgary, where she earned her undergraduate degree in cell biology. Driven by curiosity, Morgan spent a year on academic exchange at Lund University in Sweden, conducting undergraduate research that expanded her international perspective. Back in Calgary, she explored the world of nanoparticles and lung cells, gaining hands-on experience using an atomic force microscope, a time she remembers fondly for the engaging research and the thrill of discovery.
After graduation, Morgan pursued an industry internship in Germany through the DAAD RISE Professional program, spending three months at Merck in Darmstadt. There, she crossed into the world of industrial research, getting a firsthand look at how scientific discoveries move from lab to industry. Throughout her journey, Morgan has combined academic excellence, international experience, and research initiative, shaping her as a promising and well-rounded scientist.
What we covered in the interview:
Embrace Hands-On Industry Experience Early: Programs like the DAAD RISE internship in Germany or organizing/attending industry networking events during your studies are game-changers, helping you understand how your research background can translate to industry roles and widen your global perspective.
Leverage Transferable Skills, Not Just Your Title: Don’t underestimate the power of skills honed during your academic journey—project management, communication, collaboration, and resilience. Learn to highlight these when applying for roles, even if your previous title doesn’t match the new one exactly.
Stay Curious & Build Your “Organic” Network: Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating or formal. Reach out to peers a year or two ahead of you, connect with alumni, or even organize your own events. Be guided by curiosity; those casual conversations can open doors and demystify the industry landscape.
Whether you’re considering a move to industry or just want to understand what really happens after the PhD, this episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and inspiration.
See the resources section below for Morgan Foret’s links!
This episode’s resources:
RAPS Quebec Local Networking Group| linkedin.com/showcase/raps-quebec-local-networking-group
PCSN (Pharmaceutical Career Student Network, student group at McGill) | linkedin.com/company/pcsn-mcgill
Women in Bio Montreal Chapter | linkedin.com/showcase/wib-greater-montreal
Women Leaders in Pharma | linkedin.com/company/women-leaders-in-pharma
Healthcare Business Women’s Association | linkedin.com/showcase/hba-canada-region
Thank you, Morgan Foret!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Morgan, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Morgan Foret a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Sarah McLusky – Research Adjacent Podcast Collab
Colleen Kelley – Unlocking Science Literacy Before University
Rayana Luna –Navigating Medical Affairs Careers
Sylvie Lahaie – Navigating Stress and Anxiety in Graduate School

Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Welcome to a brand new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this conversation, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Colleen Kelly, a seasoned chemistry professor, researcher, and now award-winning author of children’s chemistry comic books. With a PhD in chemistry from Penn State, Colleen’s career has spanned environmental toxicology, medicinal chemistry, and decades of teaching at the University of Arizona. But it’s her mission to transform “molecular literacy” for learners ages eight to one hundred and eight that sets her apart. Inspired by her own educational journey as a first-generation college student and by watching her students struggle with the basics of chemistry, Colleen shares how she’s harnessing the power of stories and comics to make the foundational elements of science accessible—and fun—for kids (and adults!).
In this episode, you’ll hear about Colleen’s personal path from student to researcher to educator, her realization that many students hit a wall due to “molecular illiteracy,” and her bold decision to bring chemistry alive through colorful storytelling. We’ll explore how she draws on pop culture, imagination, and even comic book heroes to help students of all ages see and understand the science around them. You’ll also get a peek at her Emmy-winning PBS documentary, Comic Book Chemistry, and her growing collection of educational comic adventures.
Whether you’re a scientist, an educator, a parent, or just someone who wants to see more people excited about science, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical insights, and heartwarming stories of curiosity, resilience, and the lifelong power of learning.
Creating fun and accessible chemistry stories has been a labor of love for Colleen as a retired University of Arizona chemistry professor and author of a series of kid’s chemistry comic books. In 2023, the PBS short documentary, “Comic Book Chemistry” was awarded an Emmy. This documentary centered around Colleen’s vision, chemistry comic book series and her success with teaching college-level chemistry concepts to kids. This vision was then presented as a TEDx talk, “Molecular Literacy for Ages 8 – 108” in 2025. During Colleen’s 30 years of teaching chemistry, she became aware that her students were struggling with basic concepts, including fluency with the symbols for the elements themselves. These comic books, videos, and activities are Colleen’s gift to all future scientists – one that will help them succeed in college chemistry.
Colleen holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Penn State University, was awarded a Chateaubriand Fellowship to conduct research at the Universite Pasteur in Strasbourg, France under the direction of Nobel Prize Winner, Jean-Marie Lehn. Colleen was a tenured faculty member with research expertise in environmental toxicology, medicinal chemistry, and chemistry education. She has published four chemistry textbooks, over 30 peer-reviewed articles, and has presented her work globally.
What we covered in the interview:
Early Foundations Matter: Dr. Kelley argues for introducing the “alphabet of science” (the periodic table) to kids as young as 8, when their brains are wired to associate symbols with meaning – just like learning to read or play music.
Storytelling Changes Everything: By turning molecules into characters and chemistry lessons into narratives, students remember and see the science, rather than just memorize it.
Literacy Beyond Academics: Chemistry literacy empowers everyone, from future doctors to curious consumers, to make informed decisions about medicine, the environment, and everyday life. Science is a language everyone deserves to speak.
Whether you’re eyeing your first job outside academia or aiming to grow within an organization, this episode has advice you can act on today!
See the resources section below for Rob Lion’s links!
This episode’s resources:
Website: KidsChemicalSolutions.com
Thank you, Colleen Kelley!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Colleen, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Colleen Kelley a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Sarah McLusky – Research Adjacent Podcast Collab
Sara Thompson – Four Practices You Must Learn From Gig Workers
Rayana Luna –Navigating Medical Affairs Careers
Sylvie Lahaie – Navigating Stress and Anxiety in Graduate School

Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD. This week, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Rob Lion, professor of Human Resource Development at Idaho State University, expert in culture, leadership development, and organizational performance, and co-owner of Black River Performance Management. With over two decades of experience guiding individuals and organizations, Rob shares his personal journey from early leadership roles to consulting, and how his curiosity led him to focus not just on systematic solutions, but on the human factors that drive real, lasting change in organizations.
In this conversation, Rob unpacks the realities of workplace culture, the true meaning of leadership, and the importance of behavioral science in making organizational improvements actually “stick.” For grad students and early-career researchers, he offers honest insights about the professional world outside academia, including the value of humility, self-awareness, and team skills in landing your first job—and thriving in your career afterwards. Whether you’re interested in active leadership, building workplace culture, or just starting to explore where your PhD might take you, this episode is packed with practical advice and new ways of thinking about the future.
Dr. Rob Lion is a professor of human resource development at Idaho State University. He specializes in culture, leadership development, strategy, and organizational performance. In addition to his teaching and research, Rob and his wife, Angie Lion, own Black River Performance Management. With over 20 years in leadership and organizational development, he is recognized as a visionary leader who promotes sustainable, actionable science-backed solutions for individuals and organizations.
Rob is a dynamic speaker and consultant who understands how to integrate the theory and teachings of best practices into organizational practices, resulting in strategic and sustainable improvement solutions. As a professor and researcher specializing in the psychological and behavioral sciences, Rob provides expert guidance to clients, addressing their “people” needs, obstacles, and opportunities.
What we covered in the interview:
Embrace Humility & Keep Learning: No matter how advanced your degree, entering a new work environment means there’s still much to learn. Being open, humble, and ready to adapt is key to long-term success and professional growth.
Practice Teamwork & Emotional Intelligence: Technical knowledge opens doors, but your ability to collaborate, communicate, and navigate group dynamics determines how far you’ll go. Emotional intelligence is a crucial differentiator for hiring managers today.
Take Initiative in University & Beyond: Universities are a “petri dish” for low-risk leadership experiences—get involved beyond the lab or classroom! Organizing events, working with clubs, or connecting with alumni not only build your resume but also expand your professional mindset and network.
Whether you’re eyeing your first job outside academia or aiming to grow within an organization, this episode has advice you can act on today!
See the resources section below for Rob Lion’s links!
This episode’s resources:
Website: BlackRiverPM.com
Thank you, Rob Lion!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Rob, let him know by clicking the link below and leaving him a message on Linkedin:
Send Rob Lion a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Sarah McLusky – Research Adjacent Podcast Collab
Papa PhD Gold – Sue Ashford – Four Practices You Must Learn From Gig Workers
Rayana Luna –Navigating Medical Affairs Careers
Sylvie Lahaie – Navigating Stress and Anxiety in Graduate School

Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD. In this episode, David Mendes sits down with Sylvie Lahaie, a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and expert in stress management and burnout prevention. Sylvie shares her compelling journey through academia, detailing both the pressures and rewards of graduate research, and candidly opens up about her personal struggle with chronic burnout during her master’s program. But Sylvie didn’t just overcome adversity—she transformed it, integrating her scientific background in neuroscience with a passion for yoga, breathwork, and meditation to foster real, sustainable relief from stress.
Tune in as Sylvie unpacks the science behind fight-or-flight responses, the path to deep self-care, and practical breathwork techniques you can use to find calm in the middle of academic storms. Whether you’re a graduate student trying to strike that elusive work-life balance, or simply curious about how neuroscience meets mindfulness, this conversation is packed with honest reflections, actionable advice, and hope for a healthier approach to success. So, get comfortable and prepare to breathe—let’s get Beyond the Thesis!
Sylvie Lahaie is a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and expert in stress management, burnout prevention, and brain rewiring for greater productivity and ease. She is a content creator, educator, and workshop facilitator who helps people experience real and lasting relief from stress.
Sylvie leverages her background in neuroscience (MSc), her personal experience with chronic burnout, and over four years of teaching yoga and meditation. She is currently pursuing her PhD in neuroscience and teaches yoga in Montreal.
What we covered in the interview:
Surviving—and Thriving After—Burnout Sylvie opens up about the long hours, the isolation, the pressure to publish, and the physical and mental toll of academic life. She’s candid about her challenges, including reaching out for professional help and the rocky moments with her supervisor. But she also shares the silver linings: with distance, support, and the right tools, things truly can get better.
The Brain Science of Stress & Calm Get a crash course on the brain’s stress response: the difference between your “fight-or-flight” sympathetic nervous system and your “rest-and-digest” parasympathetic state. Sylvie breaks down how simple practices—yes, even a YouTube yoga routine!—can help reset your nervous system, relieve anxiety, and bring much-needed perspective when the storm hits.
From Yoga Skeptic to Yoga Teacher Hear how a few honest minutes on the mat opened Sylvie to a new way of living (and eventually, teaching!)—and why consistent practice, not perfection, is the key to lasting change. Her approach is accessible, science-backed, and totally judgment-free.
Breathwork You Can Use Today You don’t need a fancy app or special equipment. Sylvie generously shares TWO practical breathwork exercises you can do anytime—during a tough moment at your desk, before a presentation, or just when you need to dial down the stress. Want a guided recording? DM Sylvie on Instagram!
If you’re feeling alone, pressured, or lost—this episode is for you. You’ll hear about the importance of supportive friends (even the ones who invite you out when you always say no), the healing power of community, and the critical reminder: your health matters more than any paper.
See the resources section below for her links!
This episode’s resources:
Instagram: @synaptic.sylvie
TikTok: @synaptic.sylvie
Montrealers: Practice with her in-person at Akasha studio!
Thank you, Sylvie Lahaie!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Sylvie, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Sylvie Lahaie a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !







