TCP 403: Attention span and other things

TCP 403: Attention span and other things

Author: DM Martinez September 20, 2018 Duration: 38:13

Attention span and other things. Daniel and Rob make another podcast! This time about the attention span myth (TED talks? Blah) and a little bit about how your brain processes information. Plus, Rob gets distracted by his phone. (Standard disclaimers. Especially the part about our views and our employers' views. Not necessarily the same.)


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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 43

The Contingent Professor | Tenure? They still do that? | News, Commentary, and Interviews for PhDs Trying the Professor Life
Podcast Episodes
TCP 104: Changing Academics, Changing Academia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:21
Changing Academics, Changing Academia. Daniel and Rob piece together a picture of changing attitudes and demographics in Academia. A useful synthesis of where it is and where it is likely going for phds, postdocs, and mi…
TCP 103: Another Contingent Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
Another Contingent Story. Daniel and Rob finally lock down another interview! This time with Lisa, a humanities PhD/Adjunct, discussing her path to contingency. Topics range from why get a PhD in the first place, to the…
TCP 102: (Still) Coping With Contingency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:31
Still coping with contingency. Inspired by new podcasts covering the AltAc genre, Daniel and Rob continue their look into what contingency means for academic types in the broader context of the new normal of a global con…
TCP 101: Teaching Millennials [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
Teaching Millennials. Daniel and Rob (and a cricket) bring in a new season and academic year with early semester vibes from a student body at the meaty part of the Millennial generation. (Views are ours, jokes meant to b…
TCP 009 Last Days of Summer (No!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:12
Episode 009: Last Days of Summer (No!). Daniel and Rob wrap up Season 0, talking about how to prepare for another academic year. But, first, they discuss a recent New York Times article about how there are too many Resea…
TCP 008 Flipping (off) the Classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:15
Episode 008: Flipping (off) the Classroom. Daniel and Rob talk about a new trend in academia: flipped teaching. As they discuss if the strategy really works, they reach the conclusion that it might not even matter. Highe…
TCP 007 Why You Should Be An Adjunct (?!?!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:00
Episode 007: Why You Should Be An Adjunct (?!?!) Daniel and Rob talk about a great tweet they found, leading them to talk about the Adjunct position from the perspective of working professionals that teach a class on the…
TCP 006 Rate My Effective Efficient Professors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
Episode 006: Rate My Effective Efficient Professors. Daniel and Rob discuss the first few chapters of an old gem of a book, The Effective, Efficient Professor by Prof. Phillip Wankat. From mission statements to setting g…
TCP 005 Professoriate 2050 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
Episode 005: Professoriate 2050. Daniel and Rob wrap up the "what does contingent mean to me?" question, looking at the latest AAUP report about the Professoriate in 2050, discussing an old UNC - Chapel Hill initiative o…
TCP 004 A Contingent Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
Episode 004: Interview with "Joe Colleague." Daniel and Rob talk to their colleague Joe and learn about his wacky journey from PhD to contingency, with advice for those trying to hack it, too. (Standard disclaimer applie…