Best Lin K Podcasts (2026)

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Sunny Lin, PhD 28:25

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22d ago28:25

28:25

What do you do when a grant that anchors your research disappears overnight? We sit down with Sunny Lin, PhD to explore the real work of rebuilding after a canceled K Award. Our conversation moves through the full arc of the K-to-R journey. We talk candidly about the moment a career plan implodes, why grief is not a distraction but a tool for clari…

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Finding Your Footing: Reflection Questions To Close A Hard Year And Step Into The Next 28:25

7d ago28:25

28:25

In a moment when the funding landscape has been unstable, institutions have been unpredictable, and many of you have been carrying more emotional and intellectual weight than ever, it can feel self-indulgent to pause and look back. But this practice isn’t about creating a tidy narrative of the year. It’s about locating yourself again — your values,…

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Uncharted Academia Part 6: Sustainable Ambition 7:26

1M ago7:26

7:26

We wrap our Uncharted Academia series by making a clear case for sustainable ambition—ambition that draws strength from purpose, alignment, and hope, not from fear or constant approval-seeking. Across a turbulent funding climate and shifting institutional norms, Sarah explores how early career researchers can protect their energy, keep their work f…

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Uncharted Academia Part 5: Redefining Success 7:26

1M ago7:26

7:26

In Part 5 of this series, Sarah explores how external metrics create an illusion of certainty—and how to replace it with something sturdier: your own clear metrics, aligned with work that genuinely matters. In this episode, we talk about redefining success on your own terms. Because when the ground is shifting beneath academia, the only real securi…

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Uncharted Academia Part 4: Building Research And Career Networks That Last 11:01

1M ago11:01

11:01

In Part 4 of this series Sarah explores an essential way to navigate uncertainty—one built on intentional collaborations, reciprocal networks, and leadership that starts with self-stewardship. We explore how to choose fruitful collaborations. And beyond the science itself, we dig into building a career network that protects your future. Reciprocity…

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Uncharted Academia Part 3: Protecting and Leveraging Excellence 17:40

1M ago17:40

17:40

In Part 3 of this series, Sarah maps a practical way through turbulence by protecting the two skills that matter most: resilience, rooted in purpose and self-belief, and communication, the ability to show the value of your research with precision. We start by redefining survival mode as mission critical work. Using a North Star to guide decisions, …

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Uncharted Academia Part 2: Finding Strategic Clarity 13:50

1M ago13:50

13:50

The ground is shifting under research funding, and we’re not waiting around for “normal” to return. In Part 2 of Uncharted Academia, Sarah lays out a practical path for early career investigators to stay steady and keep moving: cultivate resilience, communicate value with precision, and steer every decision using a clear North Star. If you’ve felt …

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Uncharted Academia Part 1: The End of the Old Rulebook? 15:03

1M ago15:03

15:03

The ground under academic research careers is shifting fast—and waiting for a return to “normal” is costing time, energy, and momentum. In this first episode of Uncharted Academia, Sarah names what has changed: shrinking NIH budgets, political threats to universities, and rising burnout across the academy. She looks squarely at the panic spreading …

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Introducing a Special Series: Uncharted Academia 1:01

2M ago1:01

1:01

This is a quick preview of my new six-part series, Uncharted Academia — about navigating research careers in a time of transformation. Over six episodes, we’ll talk about clarity, boundaries, leadership, and redefining success in a system that’s changing for good. Interested in joining the next cohort of K to R Essentials? Join the waitlist at http…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Kalisha Bonds Johnson PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC 47:46

4M ago47:46

47:46

Navigating the leap from K Award to R01 funding demands more than scientific expertise—it requires discovering your authentic research voice and purpose. In this revealing conversation with Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, we explore how finding your North Star can transform your research journey, especially during uncertain times. Dr. Johnson, who studi…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Haixia Zheng, PhD 29:18

5M ago29:18

29:18

Transitioning from K to R grant funding demands more than just technical knowledge—it requires a fundamental shift in scientific identity and leadership. K to R Essentials graduate Haixia Zheng, PhD shares her journey from K Award success to preparing for her R grant submission. In our conversation we discuss: • Comparing grant writing to "playing …

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Caitlin Rancher PhD 30:51

5M ago30:51

30:51

K to R Essentials graduate Caitlin Rancher, PhD shares her journey navigating the K99-R00 transition while developing essential skills for independent faculty success. She discusses how applying a scientific mindset to career challenges transformed uncertainty into opportunity. In this conversation we discuss: • The challenge of "going off the writ…

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Reclaiming Control Over Your Academic Career 17:04

6M ago17:04

17:04

When your grant funding suddenly vanishes, panic isn't just common—it's expected. But how you respond to that panic could determine whether your research vision survives or gets sacrificed in the scramble. Drawing from recent conversations with early-career researchers facing grant terminations, this episode delves into a crucial dilemma: the insti…

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Tempted to Use AI to Write Your Grant? Here's What To Consider 26:26

6M ago26:26

26:26

The ever-expanding presence of artificial intelligence in our professional lives has reached the sacred territory of research grant writing, raising profound questions about scientific integrity and the nature of academic work. As someone who's spent a fair amount of time exploring these tools firsthand, I'm sharing my perspective on how researcher…

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Introspection as a Career Strategy: Wayfinding Without a Map 12:26

7M ago12:26

12:26

This episode gets a bit personal! Rediscovering a 12-year-old journal unexpectedly transformed my understanding of the work I do now. For weeks, I found myself immersed in the pages of my younger self's thoughts, witnessing my struggles to define personal and professional goals while questioning if I even deserved to have them. What struck me most …

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Amy LeClair, PhD 40:48

7M ago40:48

40:48

In this episode, I sit down with Amy LeClair, PhD — a medical sociologist and recent K to R Essentials graduate — for a powerful conversation about moving from being a perpetual collaborator to pursuing independent research, describing how she found support through structured mentorship and community during a pivotal career phase. She discusses the…

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You Can't Do It Alone: Finding Your People During the K to R Transition 12:26

7M ago12:26

12:26

Have you ever tried to navigate a major life change completely on your own? As someone who once proudly wore the "I'll figure it out myself" badge, I've learned through experience that community isn't just helpful during transitions—it's absolutely essential. This episode explores the transformative power of finding your people during the K to R tr…

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When It Feels Like You Can't Catch A Break 14:25

8M ago14:25

14:25

If you’ve been feeling like you just can’t catch a break, this episode is for you. In the last five years, early-career researchers have had to navigate two major crises—first the pandemic, and now a new wave of funding instability and institutional upheaval. There’s no playbook for how to move through something like this. And yet, you’re still her…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Brienne Miner, MD MHS 32:13

9M ago32:13

32:13

In this episode, I sit down with Brienne Miner, MD MHS—a physician, researcher, and recent K to R Essentials graduate—for a powerful conversation about what it really looks like to step into your role as a PI with clarity and purpose. Brienne shares how her clinical work with older adults and their care partners shaped her research questions—and ho…

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A Strategic Reset When You’re Feeling Powerless 14:52

9M ago14:52

14:52

When the funding landscape feels chaotic, it’s easy to spiral into overwhelm or freeze in place. But one of the most powerful things you can do right now is come back to the work that grounds you. In this episode, I’m sharing a moment from inside K to R Essentials that reminded all of us—myself included—how much clarity and confidence can come from…

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Short-Term Panic vs. Long-Term Strategy: How to Make Better Career Decisions 14:45

9M ago14:45

14:45

When the decisions you make are often short-term, reactionary, and misaligned with where you actually want to go. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between making decisions from a place of fear versus a place of clarity—and why it matters. If you’ve ever felt pressure to just do something without a clear plan, or rushed into commi…

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Overcommitted and Off-Track? How to Reclaim Your Time for the Work That Matters 15:40

10M ago15:40

15:40

Defining your North Star—the long-term vision for your research—is one thing. Actually aligning your daily work with it? That’s where things get tricky. Most researchers don’t realize just how misaligned their time and commitments are until they take a hard look at where their energy is going. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it. In this episod…

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Navigating Institutional Chaos Without Losing Sight of Your Career Goals 17:09

10M ago17:09

17:09

With so much uncertainty in higher education, research funding, and institutional policies, it’s easy to feel like the ground is constantly shifting beneath you. But instead of reacting to institutional panic or the latest funding changes, you need a way to stay grounded in what actually matters—your research and the impact you want to have. That’s…

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K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes: The Proposal Development Plan That Saves You Time & Stress 17:16

10M ago17:16

17:16

This episode wraps up our K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes mini-series with a look inside the final month of the program—Planning. If you’ve been following along, you know that we start with the big-picture vision for your career, then build the leadership and strategy skills you need to make that vision a reality. In this final stage, we take e…

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K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes: How to Strategically Map Your Next Steps 12:25

10M ago12:25

12:25

In this episode of K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes, we’re diving into strategy—the third month of the program and where we shift from big-picture vision work into pragmatic, strategic decision-making. One of the most important exercises we do in this phase is connecting your North Star to the next research idea you’ll pursue and the grant appli…

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K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes: Cultivating Leadership from Within 11:13

11M ago11:13

11:13

This episode continues our special miniseries, K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes, offering an inside look at our coaching calls. K to R Essentials is structured around four key themes—Vision, Leadership, Strategy, and Planning—and this series explores each one. In this episode, we dive into the second theme: Leadership. One of the foundational pr…

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K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes: How We Clarify Your Vision 11:21

11M ago11:21

11:21

This episode kicks off a special miniseries, K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes, offering an inside look at our coaching calls. K to R Essentials is structured around four key themes—Vision, Leadership, Strategy, and Planning—and this series explores each one. The focus of this episode is vision—the foundation of a successful research career. One …

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How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others (Revisited) 9:36

11M ago9:36

9:36

In the high-stakes world of academia, competition is everywhere—from landing a faculty position to securing grant funding. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, but instead of success, this can lead to self-sabotage. In this episode, we explore how comparison, competition, and critique—although vital in academia—often wor…

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Protecting Your Capacity for Thoughtful Research in 2025 and Beyond 8:30

12M ago8:30

8:30

Learning to navigate uncertainty is essential for a successful research career. In this episode, I reflect on the challenges we face as researchers—both in the broader funding landscape and our personal and professional lives—and share practical strategies to stay grounded and focused amidst the unknown. I dive into the foundational tools that help…

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End-of-Year Reflection and Intention Setting: Tools to Close the Year with Clarity 14:43

1y ago14:43

14:43

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and prepare for what’s next. In this solo episode, I’m sharing a practice that has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional growth over the last five years: end-of-year reflection and intention setting. This simple yet transformative exercise helps me acknowledge wins,…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Jaime Speiser, PhD 25:16

1y ago25:16

25:16

In this episode, I sit down with Jaime Lynn Speiser, PhD, an associate professor of Biostatistics and Data Science and a recent K to R Essentials graduate. Jaime shares her experience of navigating the unique challenges and opportunities as a statistician working across diverse subject matter areas, and how the program helped her build confidence, …

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Clare Whitney, PhD MBE RN 16:34

1y ago16:34

16:34

In this episode, I speak with Clare Whitney, PhD MBE RN, an assistant professor, and a recent K to R Essentials graduate. Clare shares her journey from feeling stretched too thin to finding her “North Star” in research, which has helped her focus on her work’s core mission: clinician moral well-being. Clare’s work as a nurse scientist and bioethici…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Kristin Anderson, PhD 40:12

1y ago40:12

40:12

In this episode, I sit down with Kristin Anderson, PhD, a K to R Essentials graduate and assistant professor at the University of Virginia. Kristin shares her inspiring journey from an uncertain start to a clearly defined and purpose-driven research career, rooted in her personal mission to develop cancer therapies for women’s health. Tune in to th…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Caroline Sloan, MD MPH 26:50

1y ago26:50

26:50

In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Sloan, MD MPH a recent graduate of the K to R Essentials program and a general internist, as she shares her journey of building a purpose-driven research path. Caroline reflects on the challenges and rewards of managing a dual role in clinical care and health services research and the transformation that le…

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What Becomes Possible When You Start Thinking Like a PI 14:39

1y ago14:39

14:39

What becomes possible when you stop thinking like a mentee and start thinking like a PI? In this episode, I’m diving deep into what happens when you make the crucial shift in your research career from mentee to PI. This transition isn’t just about changing titles—it’s about transforming how you approach your work, your confidence, and your path for…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Liza Behrens, PhD RN 26:12

1y ago26:12

26:12

What does it take to transition from a K Award to an R01 with confidence and clarity? In this episode, I sit down with Liza Behrens, a recent K to R Essentials graduate and assistant professor of nursing at Penn State University. Liza shares her journey of navigating the complexities of research, grant writing, and leadership as a clinician scienti…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Cindy Veldhuis, PhD 23:29

1y ago23:29

23:29

How do you navigate the transition from postdoc to independent PI without losing your sense of direction? In this episode, I chat with Cindy Veldhuis, a recent graduate of K to R Essentials, who shares her candid experience of navigating the challenges of academic life. From figuring out how to ‘adult’ as a PI to understanding the power of mentorsh…

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Get your K to R Essentials Program Questions Answered Live 0:50

1y ago0:50

0:50

Are you ready to navigate the journey from K award to your first R01 with confidence? Join us for a special bonus episode as we dive deep into an upcoming info session for the next cohort of the K to R Essentials program. Scheduled for Thursday, October 17, at 10:30 AM PST/1:30PM EST, this info session is a golden opportunity for early career resea…

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The Balance Between Dreaming Big and Taking Action: Delusion vs. Discipline in Your Career 10:26

1y ago10:26

10:26

Have you ever felt like your career ambitions were just too big, maybe even impossible? In this episode, I’m diving deep into the critical balance between delusion and discipline when it comes to pursuing your career ambitions. It’s a concept we explore in K to R Essentials and one that can make or break your long-term success. I want you to dream …

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The Myth of Being Behind: How to Shift Your Perspective and Stay on Track 6:23

1+ y ago6:23

6:23

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly behind in your career? In this episode, I’m tackling the common but misguided belief that we’re not where we should be. So many of us feel like we’re behind, but that feeling is often based on unrealistic expectations or inaccurate comparisons. The truth? Being behind is just a story we tell ourselves, and it…

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Featured K to R Essentials Graduate: Gillian Tarr, PhD CPH 20:10

1+ y ago20:10

20:10

Have you ever felt like your career path was a bit scattered or not quite aligned with what you truly want to be doing? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Gillian Tarr, an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, to discuss her journey through the K to R Essentials program and how it helped her find clarity in h…

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Your Roadmap to Securing Your First R01 6:32

1+ y ago6:32

6:32

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the lack of a clear path from a K award to your first R01, you’re not alone. Moving from being a mentee to taking the lead on your own research can feel like you’re navigating uncharted territory. But here’s the good news: You don’t need a perfect roadmap. You just need to know where you’re headed, and I’m here to h…

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My Story: How a Life-Threatening Experience Shaped My Career and Mission 12:43

1+ y ago12:43

12:43

In this episode, I share a deeply personal story that goes beyond the pragmatic reasons why I created K to R Essentials. While the program was born out of a practical need to help early-career researchers navigate the challenges of grant deadlines and writing their first R01, there’s a much deeper reason driving my passion for this work. I tell the…

1
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others 9:36

1+ y ago9:36

9:36

In the high-stakes world of academia, competition is everywhere—from landing a faculty position to securing grant funding. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, but instead of success, this can lead to self-sabotage. In this episode, we explore how comparison, competition, and critique—although vital in academia—often wor…

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Are You Doing Some Magical Thinking About Grant Deadlines? 10:16

1+ y ago10:16

10:16

Setting goals is easy for high achievers. The challenge lies in achieving them—on your ideal timeline—without burning out. In this episode, I explore the pitfalls of setting ambitious targets without proper planning and how this can lead to burnout and panic-driven decisions, especially as deadlines approach. Drawing from experiences with my K to R…

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Knowing the Difference Between Career Ambition And Ambitious Grants 14:05

1+ y ago14:05

14:05

Have you ever been told that your ambitions are too big? There’s a fine balance between being ambitious in your career and being realistic in your grant proposals. In this episode, I explore why feedback on being "overly ambitious" in grants should not have any influence on your career ambitions - and how you can address this critique effectively. …

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How To Free Yourself From The Mentee Mindset (Revisited) 7:20

1+ y ago7:20

7:20

Is your mindset keeping you from taking it to the next level in your research career? Shifting from the mentee mindset to the PI mindset is key to helping you navigate the K to R transition. But how? Where do you start? Tune in to this episode of the podcast to discover: The key indicators of the mentee mindset How your socialization is holding you…

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Are Your Priorities Aligned With Your Actions? (Revisited) 11:51

1+ y ago11:51

11:51

How you prioritize your time will determine whether your R01 gets done first or is a side project that you work on on nights and weekends. This week on the show, we are revisiting our conversation on priorities so you can be reminded that it’s never selfish to make your career aspirations your #1 priority! It’s easy to say that converting your NIH …

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How Unconscious Decision-Making Can Derail Your Career (Revisited) 16:39

1+ y ago16:39

16:39

We’re revisiting a topic introduced early in the life of the podcast. It’s a topic that’s important enough to stay on the mind of researchers all throughout their careers. Unconscious Decision-Making. Why does conscious and unconscious decision-making matter at this specific point in your research career? The easy answer? Because your whole career …

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Stop Undervaluing Your Intellectual Contributions 13:03

1+ y ago13:03

13:03

Why is it easier to envision interpersonal contributions rather than intellectual contributions in your research career? In this episode, we dive into the reasons it can feel easier to imagine the impact you’ll have as a mentor and a leader rather than as a researcher—and the dangers of focusing on your interpersonal contributions rather than your …