Peer Review: Creativity and Fulfillment in Academia

In this special episode, host of Write It! podcast Rachel Gordan speaks with Peer Review host Sarah Bunin Benor.

Undergraduate Director and Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University Michal Raucher discusses the intersection of scholarship and teaching and the nuances of addressing political issues in the classroom. Raucher reflects on what makes a fulfilling class, how administrative positions give insight into the larger university system, and the importance of laughter both at work and at home. 

Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa Joel Westheimer speaks about his path from the K-12 classroom to the lecture hall. With wisdom from his experience testifying in support of NYU’s graduate students’ right to unionize, Westheimer shares how he developed his passion for democratic education, and why it’s needed more than ever.

Rees Kassen, evolutionary biologist at McGill University, brings a scientific framework to improve public health, the environment, and academia. With insights on the ecosystem of the university, applications of STEM to policy-making, and mentorship within the lab, Kassen offers a multi-disciplinary framing.

Helen Sword is professor emerita at the University of Auckland and author of four books on the craft of writing and how to make the process more pleasurable. In this interview, she discusses her most recent book, Writing with Pleasure, including color-coding and reintroducing physicality into writing. Her advice even applies to finding energy in writing emails. 

Eviatar Zerubavel is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Rutgers University and author of 14 books. With Mira and Sarah, he discusses the approach he popularized in The Clockwork Muse: A Practical Guide to Writing Theses, Dissertations, and Books, including writing routines, timetables, and analog idea-organizing. Which wins the productivity race, the Tortoise or the Hare? Listen to find out.

Annmarie Caño, Psychology Professor at Gonzaga University and author of Leading Toward Liberation, explains how to effect institutional change through listening-based leadership, defining the hidden curriculum, and articulating individual mission statements.

Ilana Horwitz, professor of Jewish studies and sociology at Tulane University and author of The Entrepreneurial Scholar, shares wisdom from her unexpected journey into academia and insights on the role of resourcefulness in finding a job, publishing op-eds, and developing “minimally viable products.”

Robbie Shilliam, Scholar of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, reflects on bringing creativity and community to academia through the interdisciplinarity of the field, co-teaching courses, building structures for sustained collective success, and even making time to play Assassin's Creed.

Founder and director of the Academic Writers Space Alison Miller shares advice for building writing infrastructure, navigating inbox Narnia, and living a life where productivity and well-being coexist. Scholars at all career stages can learn from Miller’s expertise.

Lance Eaton, an expert on integrating technology into education, gives practical tools for teaching in the world of AI. Grappling with questions of its uses, ethics, and possibilities, Eaton underscores the humanness at the center of the AI discussion.

Lila Corwin Berman, professor of American Jewish History at New York University, discusses how current U.S. politics and internal drive for productivity shape her work. With reflective wisdom, Berman offers insight on appreciating the slowness of book-writing, the pressure of proving ‘smartness,’ and the importance of relaxation.

Peter Anderson, leadership and mindfulness coach, shares wisdom about burnout, stoicism, and emotional intelligence. Including a brief meditation sample, Anderson prompts reflection on autonomy and ‘better productivity.’

Academic coach and author Leslie Kern on navigating the challenging world of academia, from prestige and productivity to making hidden labor count.

Mira Sucharov interviews Sarah Bunin Benor, podcast co-host and Professor at Hebrew Union College, about her expertise in the field of Jewish sociolinguistics, productivity hacks, and animating values. From founding the Jewish Language Project to compiling wisdom from women in their 90s, Benor dives into her driving force of community engagement and shares her practices for work-life balance.

Debuting the Peer Review Podcast, Sarah Bunin Benor interviews Mira Sucharov, political scientist, writer, and Peer Review co-host, about her ongoing journey in academia, lessons learned, and finding community along the way. Sucharov shares insights on creative output, air hockey, and more.

Welcome to the Peer Review Podcast! A sociolinguist and a political scientist discuss something they never learned in grad school: how to live a meaningful academic life. Sarah Bunin Benor and Mira Sucharov in conversation with experts, coaches, and scholars about the ups and downs of the scholarly journey. Articulating priorities. Rethinking productivity. Finding meaning.