The Contingent Professor | Tenure? They still do that? | News, Commentary, and Interviews for PhDs Trying the Professor Life

The Contingent Professor | Tenure? They still do that? | News, Commentary, and Interviews for PhDs Trying the Professor Life

Author: DM Martinez Language: English Episodes: 43
Hosted by DM Martinez, The Contingent Professor | Tenure? They still do that? exists in the space where higher education meets the shifting ground of modern career paths. This isn't just academic gossip; it's a direct line to the experiences of PhDs who are actively building their professional lives within and beyond traditional university walls. Each episode blends news, candid commentary, and interviews to shed light on what it really means to be a professor today. The conversation often circles around the evolving-some might say eroding-structures of tenure and the reality that many brilliant academics navigate a landscape of contingent appointments. Whether you're an adjunct seeking stability, a tenure-track professor facing a puzzling promotion process, or a mid-career scholar reconsidering your options, this podcast offers a sense of community and practical insight. You'll hear from colleagues dealing with the same pressures in research, teaching, and service, all while trying to thrive in an environment that's constantly being "re-evaluated." Tune in for honest discussions that acknowledge the bizarre realities of 21st-century academia, providing both solidarity and strategies for those committed to the professor life, in all its forms.
Episodes
TCP 2021-1: Perfect Enemies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:46
Perfect Enemies: Rob and Daniel catch up after another long hiatus. Points on perfection, online fatigue, and Daniel's ever growing hair.
TCP 601 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
Cov-Ed. Daniel and Rob talk (remotely) for the first time since lockdown. Listen to them catch up, talk covid, and discuss issues related to teaching and community in the bizarre year of 2020.
TCP-502 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
Empty Halls. Daniel and Rob sit down to talk about the trend of working outside the office during "business hours" to get things done, and what it means to university culture. (Standard disclaimers)
TCP 501: 5 Student Types [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Daniel and Rob do some overdue venting as a new academic year moves along. From getting to do a faculty search to isolating 5 student classroom types. A little catharsis goes a long way. (Standard disclaimers)
TCP 409: Just a Blurb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:26
Just a blurb. Daniel and Rob try to make a blurb for another podcast and fall into an episode ranging from past lab experiences, to debriefing another end of semester, to new attempts at online programs. Needless to say,…
TCP 408: Bleeping New Material [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:35
Bleeping New Material. Daniel and Rob with a new SD card and an almost end of semester podcast. When do you stop introducing new material in class? And what's the point of academic publishing? (Standard disclaimers: espe…
TCP 407: Copywrite Error [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
Copywrite Error. Bonus Episode. Daniel starts ranting and Rob grabs the microphones for a shortened episode about figure captions and attribution in books. Daniel notices a "write error" on the recorder and tries to save…
TCP 406: Spring Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:47
Spring Break. Daniel and Rob finally have some time right before spring break to chat up on what's been happening during the semester. Daniel talks about what it's like to teach a no-prerequisite quantitative reasoning c…
TCP 405: Listen to my podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
Listen to my podcast. Daniel and Rob squeeze one last podcast into the year. In this episode they talk about the many roles of the professor, student evals, with a quick Q&A from student X or Y, and Rob's welcome message…
TCP 404: Pop-up Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
Pop-up podcast. Rob makes Daniel make a podcast. In this episode they talk about pop-up courses and a controversial one that caused a slight national stir. What place do these have in different fields and do contingents…