Much of life - including academic life - focuses on the present. The loud. The visible. But there is value in recognizing the power of absence, the ghosts of the past that reframe and reshape our present. This week's Post activates Hauntology - to value what we ignore or deny - youtu.be/E0HofM9enQ0

Writing is tough. There are millions of self help books talking about how to write. But what is the role of 'place' in our writing? The 'where' of our writing? This week's Post ponders how we align the tasks, the time and the place of writing to enable productivity and meaning. youtu.be/hdMRbFBzcn8

Yep. We made it. Vlog 500. Weekly vlogs delivered through the last ten years. 3 series. Thank you for sharing them with me. This week, we consider this body of defiant research, and how we can not only enable Non Traditional Research Outputs, but un/popular culture. New Post - youtu.be/y8WMjyQudtM

It is so valuable to learn from the suffering and survival of other remarkable humans. This week - for Post 140 - we explore how Gisele Pelicot suffered so greatly in her life, but learned to make meaning from the lies, the violence and the exploitation. New Post - youtu.be/HpWLicvCT2c

A PhD can become - with some planning - our first book. But how do we create, write and publish the second book? The fifth book? The twentieth book? This week, we probe how to create sustainable and efficient academic book publishing. Together - let's do this... youtu.be/8uQjOq73MH8

We are taught from a young age that suffering is inevitable. It will be rewarded with a 'heaven' or an 'afterlife.' There is another way to think about suffering. This week, we use suffering to understand a context of injustice, inequality and harm. New post and new literacy - youtu.be/G8IKBJIUhIM

Wow, the world is dark. And troubling. But as opinion replaces fact, and emotion displaces evidence, what do we do? The Post this week has one solution. Let's ask better questions... NewPost - youtu.be/z48nkAsTXvM

A refrain from this strange time is, "I've done my own research." Research is becoming subjective. Academics - similarly - are judging some outputs as junk and other publications as elite. How are such categories constructed? This Post probes the impact of this arbitrariness - youtu.be/uc0BW4D1dIg

With my love to my amazing sista from another mista, @nazlinbhimani.bsky.social, I send my respects, love and congratulations to Cate. Powerful piece. Powerful project. Citation politics is transformational and meaningful. We can change the world. One reference at a time :) txxx

The requests I receive for the Post are extraordinary. This week - I was asked to explore a concept. Exterminism. What is it - and how do we fight it??!!! Great question of our time. And for our time. Here we go - New Post - youtu.be/9ovnqQ552vs

There are many attempts to understand - to comprehend - what is happening in the world. But 10 years ago, a remarkable researcher predicted our present. It is time to revisit and revalue Vampire Capitalism. Time to break the thrall... #latecapitalism New Post - youtu.be/q1lN4dqay1Y

Interdisciplinarity. A word. A cliche. A tick-a-box platitude. But it does not have to be this way. This week's Post explores interdisciplinarity, how to write an interdisciplinary PhD thesis and - perhaps most importantly - how to examine one. New Post - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oac...

With chaos and confusion encircling us, I was asked 'how can I be taken seriously as a researcher?' Intriguing question. This week, let's answer it. But we also probe the much bigger question: what does success mean? New Post - youtu.be/fWnMo12jpHI

Most of us have experienced a frightening workplace. The word 'toxic' doesn't begin to capture it... This week, we probe how to manage intimidation and threats as a researcher. We provide concrete strategies to manage a really (really) tough environment. New Post - youtu.be/3mnM2_Yx49A

Who is believed? Who has the right to speak? Who has the right to write? This week - through the lens of the writing, life and death of Anthony Bourdain - we explore myth, meaning and mattering. And the stories that connect them... youtu.be/C1cy3NcH-tk

Thank you to Jo for the lovely mention!!! I'm writing the session now - can't wait to see everyone :) txxx

Grief activates deep and dark emotions in our lives. But sharing a death while a loved one is still living? Devastating. This week, we explore life, work, research and teaching through anticipatory grief, with strategies to enable care, love and respect. New post: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eozi...

For much of the last decade, I've wondered how (the hell) did we end up here? That question has many answers. One is that we live in a time of simple ideas - expressed with great confidence. This week's Post activates a new project: the Tedtalkification of knowledge. Let's go - youtu.be/eyhnRCRP9MU

The year after finishing a PhD is tough. How we support early career colleagues remains crucial to our academic future. This week's Post learns from the remarkable Dr Damien O'Meara. How do we build success, inclusion, momentum and meaning? New Post - seeing beyond the present: youtu.be/L-laFC91ptE

This is - for some - a challenging time of the year. For many, this has been a challenging year. For the Post this week, we talk with Dr Sophia Staite. We explore the precariat academic workforce, and remaining a scholar in tough times. New Post - youtu.be/bQ4yyTPEzmc

Axiology. Crucial to research. Crucial to research education. Crucial to building knowledge, and citizenship. But what is axiology, and how can education transform if we excavate this word? New Post - youtu.be/NQ_Wu_EShdg

Information management. Not a 'sexy' topic. The consequences of proliferating information - without information literacy - is our present world. This week, we explore a first lens on organizing information for research. Primary, secondary & tertiary sources: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiU2...

Let's begin. Perhaps begin. Again. Before selecting a supervisor / advisor, writing a proposal or choosing a university, there is a first key stage in approaching a doctorate. This week's Post organizes ourselves - our self. Our family. Friends. Lives. Let's begin - #phdsky - youtu.be/yBYAITCQ6Jg

The proliferation of research dissemination options is terrific. The concern is that 'influencers' are offering 'advice' on the value of these interfaces.This week we explore the Mini Book. 10,000-12,000 words in length. What is the value of this platform for research? New Post: youtu.be/0n4jKs3n6e8

Such a privilege and joy to see my research on the weaponization of the PhD being used by the ABC to understand the treatment of women in our doctoral programmes. It was tough - dark - research. I am so thankful it has been useful... #skyphd - www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Academic writing - unfairly - has a reputation for being ... ummm ... a bit boring. Pedestrian. This week's Post focuses on writing a great first page, summoning the advice of diverse genres and approaches. Let's get beyond that abstract - to the first page - youtu.be/BdqdBPY2-aM

Our moment - our time - is getting stranger... We need a different type of academic, scholar and intellectual for this (post)reading age. This week, therefore, we summon the dramatic intellectual... And its archetype, Giorgio Agamben. Here we go - New Post - youtu.be/DrcHTiThxLc

We all have moments in our life of fear. Confusion. Despair. How can we transcend the worry? Answer: The Batman Effect. We explore the impact of self-distancing from emotion and transcending tragedy and challenge. Here we go. New Post - youtu.be/l9UREpxP5ug

Survival mode is tough. It melts the light and hope from our life. This week, we begin in the darkness of contemporary life, and create a new life architecture to sustain and - let's hope - succeed. New post - youtu.be/VhOrmRZXHMo

Most of us have been there. Our working lives are productive and enjoyable. Then ... Then ... A new person arrives or a cluster of academics occupy line management roles. An enjoyable job becomes a mess. What happens next? That is the focus for the Post this week - youtu.be/z44HB0vdFlM

Academic work can be a joy and a privilege. Learning. Teaching. Researching. Building knowledge. But then... A taxonomy of troubling people jut into a workforce... This week - let's explore this 'taxonomy of trouble' and troubling workers... #academicsky - new post - youtu.be/Cv-sv4FPfqE

The doctorate is under attack. It is being weaponized and devalued. This week, we talk about the diversity of doctorates and how - through that diversity - we confirm quality and standards. We also value the diversity of people now enrolled in these programmes - #PhDsky - youtu.be/qVmDROY_UMo

As my late husband Steve Redhead confirmed, these are Theoretical Times. We are living Baudrillard's theories. Therefore, it is the time to write that theoretical paper. Let's do this. Let's change the world. #academicsky - New Post - youtu.be/DkXP8ZXjV3g

The verification of academic research matters. So much. A thought bubble is not scholarship. Emotion is not scholarship. Therefore this week's Post explores the power of writing about methods. When we share 'the how' of our research, we make the 'why' meaningful. New post - youtu.be/WgFSR8axPbc

We live in the century of syndromes. Something strange happens? A syndrome is invented. One of these interesting inventions is Hubris syndrome. With a powerful context and origin and a burgeoning literature, hubris syndrome is a paradigm of interest. And - perhaps - horror. youtu.be/Sfc0O2sb3_Q

We live in an era that fears 'the why.' But this does not mean that researchers do not work - hard - to connect with audiences, readers and stakeholders. This week, we invest in 'the what' of research. Let's probe research aims and objectives. #phdsky - youtu.be/U6NwZKO7Kto

Certain writers - certain poets - change the world. This week's Post explore the power, passion and talent of the late Andrea Gibson. We also explore (post)reading and how poetry can intervene in declining reading rates and the consequences on citizenship. #booksky #poetrysky - youtu.be/vnExMOMPGgU

A moment that leaves me stunned. But humbled and thankful. Three (!!!) of my books are in Amazon's top six (!!!!) titles for higher and continuing education. I am not sure how this has happened, but I am so thankful....

References. Evidence. Verification. It all seems optional at the moment. An emotion, thought bubbles and vibes dominate. Right now, there is value and power in reclaiming footnotes - to demonstrate - to probe - to demonstrate. Footnotes reveal that the margins matter. New post: youtu.be/8D3ZbzHSItQ

We live. We die. Our stuff ends up in a skip. Between those events are an array of timescapes to organize, manage and understand. This week, we explore the Academic Timescape. A concept with a history of nearly 30 years. That may have found its time. #academicsky. New Post - youtu.be/YWonLq5z7V8

My new book - How to Embrace Academic Failure: Building a career with meaning, integrity and honesty - is launching this Thursday. August 28. 10am Sydney time. Online. Free. Relaxed. Lots of laughter and a wheelbarrow of hope. #academicsky - brabazon.net/2025/08/21/j...

There is so much to worry about. But what is the point of worry, and worrying? The Post this week activates (post)worry, and offers concrete and clear strategies to intervene in fear, concern and despair. New Post - youtu.be/Gs9TFHRi_Yw

Students are so often stressed and worried by the PhD Admissions Interview. Let's reduce the stress. Let's begin with the end in mind. Let's explore what both students and supervisors are looking for - and should be looking for - in this process. New Post - youtu.be/F_q8eRurgco

A truly great session. Magnificent, Colin. Thank you. Big shout out to Nostalgia Deathstar and their Zombie University project. From the grave, Steve remains the zombiest of the zombie professors. So lovely to hear his voice again - in the mix :)

'Why'? This is question that triggers thought, interpretation and - often - discomfort. Why questions are difficult. But also meaningful. This week - let's ask why. And let's answer this question. New Post - youtu.be/Yw7HBKr8rgQ

In research, we talk about finding - and then filling - a gap. But there are many gaps in knowledge. And they are all very different. This week, we summon a taxonomy of the research gap, to enable precision, rigour and transparency. Here we go - new Post - youtu.be/q_8qK_mOxOw

We know those people. When in doubt, they answer most questions with the phrase 'critical thinking.' This is too simple. Each day, we activate different modes of thinking. This week, let's explore levels of thinking and how they enhance our life, teaching and research. New Post: youtu.be/O1T-SHnhf2E

Slumps. Personal. Professional. Intellectual. What are they? For me - a slump is created through a misalignment of expectations, behaviour and outcomes. Can they be avoided? And - once we are in a slump - how can we fix it? Let's do this. New Post - youtu.be/HQfY3C8SYNo

Thrilled to see this book start to bubble through the world. My phoenix book - with thanks to @elgarpublishing.bsky.social

It is tough to be a scholar when we walk through intellectual quicksand. Or indeed - an intellectual mirage. This week, we talk about the transformations to authenticity - (post) authenticity - and how we can live, learn, verify and test in new ways... New Post - youtu.be/yrfF0cofIrE