The FastTrackGrad Podcast

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this episode, I break down why your PhD might feel broken and how to fix it using the "Northstar alignment sequence." I'll walk you through the five components of a strong PhD spine, show you where drift happens, and give you a 5-minute health check to diagnose misalignment in your research project.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this episode, I will break down the five transformational shifts every PhD student goes through and why your doctorate feels nothing like your previous degrees. We will walk through the six-stage journey:  from early confidence through disorientation, overcompensation, reality checks, and finally establishing your identity as a researcher. 

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this episode, I'll show you the five most common literature review mistakes that graduate students make and how to fix them. I'll break down critical errors like lacking a strategic argument, writing boring summaries, and missing key evidence, while sharing the mental models that will transform your literature review into graduate-level work.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastThis episode isn’t about any specific individual, but about a pattern I see across many researchers.In our community, we protect beginners and maintain a respectful, supportive environment. Always.When that standard is violated, we act to protect the group as a whole.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn today’s episode, I’m going to show you a simple 3-step, 3-minute method to write your literature review faster and with way more clarity, so you stop drowning in papers and start building a clean argument that naturally leads to your research gap.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn today’s episode, I’m going to show you how to get your research to “click” faster. If you’ve been lost in the weeds, stuck in analysis loops, or unsure how to shape your findings into a clean narrative, this will give you a simple way to regain control and move forward with confidence.

You finished your thesis. You passed. Congratulations. But that does NOT mean your thesis is publishable.In this session, I walk you step by step through how to convert a thesis chapter into a journal-ready paper using our Publishability Formula💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast.You'll learn:→ Why thesis chapters get desk rejected→ How to find your paper's ONE contribution→ The creative destruction process for ruthless cutting→ How to rebuild for your target journal→ A 5-question self-test you can use todayThis is the process I've used with my PhD students at Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.As ever we'll take your questions this week and review your research submissions.📋 Submit your work for Prof Stuckler's feedback at this week's workshop: https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6

Most people think a PhD means 3-5 years back in full time study.There's another route. And it's significantly underused.Today at 4pm CET I'm going live on YouTube to break down the PhD by Publication pathway: what it is, who it's for, and how it actually works.If you're a working professional or clinician who's already publishing or has a body of work, this might be the most relevant thing I cover this year.💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastQuestions? Submit a short video question in advance → https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6🕓 4pm CET / 3pm GMT / 11am ET

Starting a dissertation can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?In this session, we’ll walk through the essential ingredients of a strong dissertation plan, drawing on the core frameworks from the FastTrack Dissertation Blueprint. You’ll learn how to clarify your research question, structure your project, and identify the key steps that move you from a vague idea to a clear research roadmap.Whether you're just starting your dissertation or feeling stuck somewhere in the process, this session will help you see the big picture and identify your next concrete step forward.As ever, we’ll also cover your questions live, so feel free to bring your research ideas, challenges, or anything you're unsure about.💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast

When a paper gets rejected for "unclear writing" it's rarely the ideas that are the problem. It's the paragraph. The most basic unit of academic writing,  and the most commonly misunderstood. Tomorrow live I'm walking through our PEER academic writing system. Point. Evidence. Explain. Repeat. Simple framework, but most researchers have never been taught this explicitly. Once you see it you can't unsee it. Join me tomorrowSubmit your writing and research for feedback here - I'll cover it personally at the session: https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast

Narrative?Systematic?Scoping?Umbrella?Critical?Meta-analysis?They’re not interchangeable, and choosing the wrong one can cost you months.In this live session, I’ll break down:✅ Traditional Narrative Reviews – when they work (and when they don’t)✅ Systematic Reviews (PRISMA-based) – ideal for publication & PhD by publication✅ Scoping Reviews – mapping a field without over-claiming✅ Umbrella Reviews – reviewing the reviews✅ Critical / Theoretical Reviews – building arguments, not just synthesizing✅ When to avoid meta-analysis (and why most early researchers should)As ever we'll cover your video questions and provide feedback on your research too - to participate submit here: https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6

You might have a research idea.You might even have a “gap.”But is it actually publishable?In this live workshop, we’ll walk through:• How to use the PICO-D-T model to sharpen and stress-test your research question• How to identify your conceptual nearest neighbours (and why they matter for journal fit)• Practical tools to help you validate the publishability of your paper before you waste months going down the wrong pathWe’ll look at real examples and break down what separates a strong, journal-ready topic from one that will likely be desk rejected.If you want feedback on your idea, submit your topic or specific question in advance (or bring it live). We’ll review selected submissions during the session. Submit yours with the link below 👇https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast

In this live, I’ll break down why systematic reviews are often the safest first paper — especially if you’re early-career, overwhelmed, or worried about wasting time.This isn’t a how-to.It’s about making the right research decision early.As ever we'll cover your research questions and review your work. 👇 Submit your video questions for feedback here:https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6

Is the PhD system broken?The critiques of the PhD system often focus on lack of funding and lack of jobs. Those are real issues but are only part of the story. In this live session, we'll look at why so many PhD students struggle, for reasons that may not be entirely due to their own intelligence, ability or even hard work. We’ll explore:- why capable, motivated PhD students so often get stuck- how the apprenticeship model commonly breaks down - how research literacy is actually learnedAs ever, we’ll leave space for discussion and questions at the end, including reviewing and providing feedback on your research using FastTrack publishing systems.👉If you’d like your question considered during the live Q&A, you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6See you Friday,Prof Stuckler—

Feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure what to prioritize this year?Join us live as Professor Courtney McNamara returns for a hands-on session on:✔ Goal setting for researchers✔ 3-month milestones that actually move the needle✔ Building your personal research roadmapWe’ll finish with live Q&A on anything you’re working on—from early ideas to papers in review.🎥 Send your video questions here → https://forms.gle/gp9cceQfWrXXWcXb6📅 See you live.Prof Stuckler

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=live31🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/workshop/?el=live31In this conversation, you’ll learn:🔍 What policymakers really look for in research•⁠  ⁠How evidence enters (and fails to enter) the policy process•⁠  ⁠What types of studies get taken seriously — and which ones get ignored•⁠  ⁠Why timing, clarity, and political context matter far more than most academics realise❌ The biggest mistakes researchers makeProf. Galea explains why:•⁠  ⁠good evidence is often overlooked•⁠  ⁠dense academic writing kills policy impact•⁠  ⁠many PhDs misunderstand the “real audience” of their work📈 How you can make your research more influentialWe explore:•⁠  ⁠how early-career researchers can shape policy without senior titles•⁠  ⁠how to design studies policymakers actually use•⁠  ⁠the importance of relationships, networks, and narratives•⁠  ⁠how to speak the “language of decision-makers”Whether you’re in global health, social science, medicine, economics, or education, this is essential viewing if you want your research to have an impact on policy.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this live session, I’m joined by Feli Zuhendri, an engineer and company founder who went from early rejection to publishing in a Q1 journal — and now has multiple papers under review.We’ll walk through:  - how he recovered from rejection without giving up  - the shift from “fast but vague” to precise, publishable research  - why over-reliance on AI initially hurt his paper — and how he fixed it  - what actually changes once you publish your first paper  - how these skills translated directly into his business leadershipThis is an unedited, honest look at the publishing process, including the mistakes, the pressure, and the breakthroughs.If you’re coming from industry, management, or a non-traditional academic background and wondering whether publishing is realistic for you, this session is for you.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this video I will show you the exact system that top researchers use to publish more papers without burnout.📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQ

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn today’s episode, I’m going to show you how to get your research to “click” faster. If you’ve been lost in the weeds, stuck in analysis loops, or unsure how to shape your findings into a clean narrative, this will give you a simple way to regain control and move forward with confidence.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this episode I will show you the exact system that top researchers use to publish more papers without burnout.

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastIn this episode I will show you the #1 mistake that's making your literature review feel like an endless maze and how to fix it with one simple concept: the lit review funnel. If you're drowning in papers, getting "not analytical enough" feedback, or don't know how to synthesize sources, this podcast will change everything. 

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastClips shown under Fair‑Use for education & commentary. We critique ideas, not individuals.🎉 SciSpace Discount - DAVIDS40 for annual for 40% off | DAVIDS20 for monthly for 20% offToo many students are risking their degrees by blindly following AI "hacks" that will get you acused for plagiarism. In this episode, we will break down the right way to use AI for paraphrasing so that you stay ethical, confident, and protected. 📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQ

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/med/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/workshop/?el=podcastAre you a doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional who’s too busy for research but still wants to publish in top journals like The Lancet or BMJ? In this episode, we will reveal the 3 biggest barriers clinicians face and the proven system to overcome them fast. 📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQ

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/med/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcastNot sure which journal to submit your manuscript to? In this video, I will break down exactly how I choose the right journal by focusing on goals, fit, and impact so you can publish faster and smarter.⚠️ Quick note: The steps I cover here — setting your goals, checking fit, and ranking journals by quality — will naturally steer you away from predatory publishers. Still, it’s always worth double-checking that the journal you choose is legitimate and indexed in recognized databases such as Scopus, PubMed, or Web of Science before you submit. Every FastTrack researcher learns these integrity checks as part of our publishing workflow.📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQ

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/med/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast📝 Free template: https://fasttrackgrad.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FastTrack-Academic-paper-template.pdfIn this episode I will show you how I wrote a full research paper in a single day, step by step. I walk you through my exact workflow: starting from results and methods, building a clear discussion and introduction, and then using AI, Zotero, and Grammarly as a “tech triad” to catch mistakes and tighten everything up. If you’ve been stuck for weeks or months on a paper, this is the practical, no-fluff process I wish I’d had when I started.🛠️ Additional tools mentioned in the video:Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.comZoetero: https://www.zotero.org📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQAI Peer review prompt:Act as a peer reviewer for the journal “[Journal Name]” with the manuscripttype “[original research / systematic review / commentary].”Here’s the manuscript (or summary):[Paste relevant sections or entire paper]Please structure your response into four sections as:1) Brief summary of the paper2) Major comments (e.g. on methodology, significance, novelty, etc)3) Minor comments (typos, clarifications)4) An overall recommendation: “accept,” “minor revisions,” “major revisions,” or “reject”

💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/training/?el=podcast📝 Free template: https://fasttrackgrad.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FastTrack-Academic-paper-template.pdfIn this episode, I will break down 5 subtle AI failure modes I’m seeing as a professor over and over again... I’ll also show you how to use AI safely, step by step, so it accelerates your research instead of amplifying bad structure... and I’ll share a prompt template I use to force AI to act like a critic, not a hype man.📈 More Resources for Your Research Success:• Systematic Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU53F502s2DvE9eU01FftMfoaMf2pNSTn&si=hH40h2wegN_FTDj0• Find a Winning Research Topic: https://youtu.be/ANob-tnLOts• Submitting To Top Journals: https://youtu.be/jjsbqcecEc8?si=UulgACIJGJqjOZNX• Lessons From Publishing 400+ Peer Reviewed Papers: https://youtu.be/5Tet0NuuEBQDownload our AI prompt toolkit and custom GPT: https://fasttrackgrad.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FastTrack-AI-Prompt-Toolkit.pdf

In this episode, I will break down what a publication is really worth... Is it $500, $5,000, or truly priceless?  We will go over the real benefits, then use a simple economics idea called a “shadow price” to put a number on it. I will also show poll results from the community - so you can decide if it’s worth going the distance.💡 Publish Fast *Guaranteed*: Apply to work 1:1 with Prof Stuckler: https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/consultation/?el=podcast🚀 Get our FREE workshop on how researchers publish in high-impact journals in under 90 days! https://www.stucklerconsulting.com/workshop/?el=podcast📝 Free template: https://fasttrackgrad.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FastTrack-Academic-paper-template.pdf