Learning on the Job

We're 50 lessons deep, y'all! The time has come for us to lip sync for our.....wait, wrong show! Although it goes without question about who would slay who in a lip sync battle, Nic and James have decided that the time has indeed come for reflection. Reflection on this podcast, its content, and where we imagine it going. To be crystal clear, we aren't going anywhere but we are moving in another direction.

Because we can't just have nice things, this week yet again James and Nic are tasked with sifting through the wreckage that is higher education in the age of anti-intellectualism. This week the duo gets to spend a sweet moment basking in the glow of a successful educator's strike (Shoutout CSU!) before being immediately reminded of the how hard it is out here in these streets. We pour one out for the Florida governor/baby man who just really wants y'all to chill with all these book bans and try to read the tea leave or what exactly the state of Oklahoma thinks diversity is. It's...not great. But we've got each other, great book recs, and a country Beyonce album to look forward to if that's your thing. Silver lining?

Further Reading:

The queers are back, baby! Nic and James shake the cobwebs off the microphones and jump back into The Academic Discourse. Speaking of, we see you Cal State. They share what’s been going on in their lives and discuss where they hope to go. It’s been too long and we’ve missed you. Join us on this journey!

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The recent(ish) queer PhDs of color are back to discuss all the moving parts of the world around them. So many things to keep track of these days! The world(s) of higher education remains held together by the thinnest and most fragile string possible. We're here, though. And we're glad you're here, too.

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Power-hungry, cartoonishly ambitious, proudly ignorant politicians are. This week, we kick off the new year with a veritable onslaught of genuinely disturbing news. Seriously, what is going on in Florida? How concerned should we all be? This seems...bad.

But we temper that potential alarmism with a real supernova of a hot take: everyone is dramatically overreacting to chatbots and it is hilarious, revealing, and a bit sad all at once. That seems right somehow. Books you can't read now but should absolutely put on your radar, thoughts about the perils of two-factor authentication and some much needed friendship and solidarity. This one has "it all", as the kids say.

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We're back for one final episode before the holiday break! US higher ed doesn't disappoint when it comes to mess, small joys, and everything in between. Listen in as Nic and James reflect on 2022 and their speculate about the future. Enjoy and catch you in the new year!

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This week we switch formats and become a wall-to-wall sportscast in celebration of the 2022 World Cup!

jk, that would be awful. BUT, we do have some thoughts about the limits of academic freedom under theocracy, a story that reverberates from the hallowed slave-labor built stadiums of Qatar's World Cup all the way back to our old stomping grounds at THE Ohio State University. Turns out sometimes Presidential transitions can get messy. Who knew? 

And of course we've got lots of thoughts about academic labor and labor more broadly, from the UC system to the national rail worker's strike. We've said it before and we'll say it again: the fact that the wealthy are working this hard to undermine unions should really tell you everything you need to know.

Books to read for the holiday, thoughts on the year ahead, all the things you need for that drive to see those people you absolutely do love (just remember that).

Further Reading:

Hey, hi, hello! The end-of-the-semester slump is here and has us all in our feels. Nic and James discuss conferencing, the midterms (we're not a 'political' podcast in that sense we swear!), and how they plan to get through to the end of the year. Also, did you know that most of us don't actually know how to do peer reviews?! Lots of great stuff in this episode. You don't want to miss this one!

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It's the spooky season, and in the land of Black YA that can only mean one thing: Famous horror trope meets "Get Out"!

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We thank you for your patience during our short hiatus! We’re back and trying to make sense of all the things. Nic and James discuss the events of the recent weeks, including the overnight changes to Biden’s student loan forgiveness terms (do better!), the unsurprising “prestige hierarchy” of faculty life, and how to handle the mid-semester slump. We add a new segment to the mix. Listen now!

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And none of us ever want to go back there.

We're far enough into the pandemic to do some real taking stock, figuring out what worked, what didn't, what we can let go of, and what we really shouldn't be in a rush to bring back. And yet somehow if feels like the plan is just to ignore all that and pretend the pan dulce never happened. It's going predictably. Also because the universe can be relied on for at least some humor, a streetwear brand somehow manages to be uncool and exploitative at the same time. Is this...growth? 

But it's not all bad news, particularly on the academic hiring front. And at least there's always books to read. 

Further Reading:

We're back for year 3! To say that academia is a wild ride and that we still have jobs is...an understatement. Whew! Nic and James take time to reflect on the summer break and their current trajectories before jumping into the newness of the year and all that comes along with it. Did you hear that we're getting some student loans cut by the Biden administration? Is it nearly enough? Do we need to continue demanding more forgiveness? Hint: You probably know the answer. Also, it turns out that big money and big tech are the only ones who can save us from ourselves?!? Oh, so much to unpack in this episode. Have a listen and find out!

Oh you thought the semester was over?!

Well, you were right. It is. But like good academics, we had just a few more things to get off our plates, including this episode recorded back in May during the height of Finals madness. And let's all just agree to blame finals for its tardiness. Worth the wait, though, for some reflections, some introspection, and just a bit of planning. We've got ambitious plans for summer (books, conferences, actually exciting stuff!) and thoughts about how to maybe make next year functional?

Also heads up: We'll be dropping a few more surprises in the feed over the next few weeks, so stick around. You know none of us really gets to be "off" all summer.

Further Reading:

We’re approaching the final weeks of the semester/quarter and that means summer is just around the corner! The trees are finally coming to life, the birds signing, the flowers blooming, and everywhere everybody in higher ed is just trying to survive the last bit of obligation. We’re all feeling the exhaustion, no doubt. This week, Nic and James stray from their regular format and discuss the pandemic and its ongoing effects on student participation this term. It’s not all doom, though. Turns out there’s this pretty great federal program (what they’re call in an “experiment”) that makes funds, specially Pell Grants, available to incarcerated and formally integrated people looking to pursue a degree. *In best Oprah voice* Well, hey, let’s celebrate that!

Spring means cleaning, taking stock, and reflecting. And that, dear listeners, is exactly what we're doing this week. We get a bit meta as we think through this show, its audience, purpose, and future. (Heads up, an exciting Young Adult book podcast is coming your way soon!). From there we think about the limits of pitting disability politics against expanded online access and James tests out the beginnings of a theory of city organizing. Books you need, thoughts you need to hear, time well spent if you ask us!

Further Reading:

This week Nic and James take a different approach to the issues and bring things a bit closer to home. The two use the segment "Failing Better," to share their small wins and victories as junior faculty and acknowledge how far they've come. Nic confesses his love of spreadsheets (send him your tips and tricks!) and James hits his stride with administrative work. Truly, they're learning and learning good! (Don't burst their bubble, please.)

Then, in an absolutely sobering fashion, the duo discusses the massive coordinated effort across the U.S. to ban books at every level. The children's books first, then the young adult fiction, and finally the adult romance novel you've tucked away under your bed out of fear of being found out that you do, in fact, love a trashy scene. Who doesn't?! But, seriously, we should all be concerned. Ideas are dangerous, but banning books is even more dangerous.

We recommend you urge your local library to not ban books or, if possible, buy a banned book. Need recommendations? The links below should help you out.

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This week spring is springing, birds are chirping, and Florida is...Florida-ing. We spend a bit of time on some potentially hopeful news about the perceived value of a college degree, and that is good. Hold on to that feeling, because from there it's pretty much straight downhill.

This week's Disingenuous Arguments segment is really just a rundown of sunshine state shenanigans, from fired tenured faculty with 20 years of service to undermining the very notion of accreditation. And that's before we get to "don't say gay". What is in the water down there? Can we help? Florida, blink twice if you need help.

Cleanse the pallet with a book. People will think you're smart.

Further Reading

Happy March! Spring, sprang, sprung...We just want the weather to be consistent! Speaking of the opposite of consistent, ain't it wild to be a human being at this particular moment in time?

This week the duo begin with the blue and yellow elephant in the room and attempt to make sense of how we – as educators – approach and handle situations that are beyond our scope yet affect us all directly. If anyone has figured out how to address global catastrophe with poise and collectivity, then please message us! It isn't all dread, though. The duo acknowledges the sliver of silver lining in U.S. higher education happening across institutions, like U of Chicago, where departments dedicated to actual people's lives are popping up with the potential for real promise. We'll wait and see...

Did you hear about what's going on down in Texas regarding tenure and Critical Race Theory? An absolute mess, really. CRT is (unsurprisingly) the phrase among far-right and conservative groups aimed at keeping white feelings from being stirred too much. The duo sit with the disingenuous arguments being launched in Texas and think through the other, equally valid arguments that might be made against tenure. To be clear, we're NOT advocating against tenure...

Untamed, unfettered, unrestrained, un...likely to be pleasant. 

It's a jungle out there, and this week the duo dive into the thick of a harassment scandal over at ::ahem:: that one school...But in all fairness, they are certainly not the only ones. And moments like these only seem to add to the conversation about tenure, its future viability, and what becomes of this thing called higher education without it. 

Not to be outdone, Florida is Florida-ing again. It's Don't Ask, Don't Tell for the gen z set and we're decidedly not here for it. What even is this place anymore?

Read a book that doesn't suck and call your friends. It's probably gonna get worse before it gets better.

Further Reading:

Happy new year! We're back. The students are back. The cold and snow are back. The virus hasn't gone anywhere. We continue on in our learning journey. Woot. Nic and James lean back into podcasting life by reflecting on their way-too-short breaks away and all the stuff that did (and didn't) do. The duo talk conferences, spring semester hopes and challenges, and pedagogy. It's only a matter of time before they put the microchips in and we go full Matrix! Nic and James also discuss the latest "rankings" that throw the other "rankings" under the bus by showing that all "rankings" are arbitrary and mean nothing if you're not paying for your place in them. You know what we're talking about. *takes deep, deep breath*

Looks like we made it! The end of the year brings a few last lessons. First of all, never, and we mean NEVER, underestimate the popularity of Omarion. That man is getting around these days, whew! We begin by touching base on what this latest round of madness feels like on the ground. From there, we spend some time unpacking the recent renewed debate around "Latinx" as a term, a concept, a political dog whistle, what have you. There's some genuinely enlightening stuff to be encountered. 

And then we end the year with some celebration and some reflection. It wasn't all doom and gloom dear listeners. There were some great books along the way! And we've got a few thoughts about how to grow going forward. It has certainly been an interesting year. Congrats to you for hanging in there. We see you!

Happy December! The end of the term is finally upon us and we. are. EXHAUSTED! Y'all feel that, too, right? The world of higher education continues on in the U.S. and we remain skeptical of the trajectory laid out. This week, Nic and James take an ever-so-needed walk down memory lane (a.k.a. High St. in C-bus) to reflect on the exploitative conditions of grad school. The smell of fried chicken, generic fabric softener, and malt liquors will really make you appreciate the places you've been. The duo also addresses the rise in enrollment of online graduate education, the role of Hispanic Serving Institutions, and the absurdity of mask reversals on campuses today. The realities we collectively live in are, to say the very least, exhausting. James offers some cruel, cruel optimism in light of the bizarre world. Stick around to the end to hear Nic and James' final thoughts and a stellar book rec!

Further Reading:

With apologies for the holiday delay, this week we're back with some thoughts about the state of adjunct labor (shout out to the UC lecturers!) and the future of this thing called higher education. We celebrate some hard fought victories for unionized labor (we should all be unionized!) while remaining a bit skeptical about the future of adjunct teaching per se. We have some words for Joe Biden, who apparently wants to continue being President despite some pretty aggressively mounting evidence to the contrary. 

But that's all prelude to the main event. Did y'all here about this lame-ass scam-ass white grievance-ass website calling itself a college? The fact that it exists alone is shocking, but then you see who put their names on this and...oh girl. It's equal parts embarrassing and terrifying. Worry not, we cleanse the pallet with some great books and some promising thoughts about the season of sweater weather. Stay warm out there!

Further Reading:

Happy November! Fall is officially here and it's more than simply a season to be experienced with the shift in weather and landscape changes. (But, really, who doesn't love sweater weather?!) No, "fall" is also an apt metaphor for the numerous ways that it seems like we are collectively going this semester. The force of gravity is so strong, y'all! For instance, Nic and James discuss the ongoing debates about "academic freedom" and the use of "expert knowledge" down in Florida that make us wonder: Are we (and we're being generous with the use of "we" here) being pushed to our fall and demise by the powers of 'the state' to shut us up and down when we've got something critical to say? Or, is the fall of the "expert" our doing? We've got questions. The duo also discusses the controversial and is-this-really-gonna-happen dormitory being proposed (and likely built) at UCSB. The bottom line, under the guise of "efficiency," rears its windowless and ugly head once again...

It's not all doom and gloom, though. We still have sweaters! Right? RIGHT? Right. 

As always, the end of the episode offers some stellar book recommendations and thoughts on staying sane. 

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Happy Halloween! 

This one is pretty appropriately horrifying, particularly if you're concerned about the education outcomes of Black and Brown students. But, hey, what else is new? We dive into the crisis happening across education as the pandemic continues to disproportionately diminish outcomes and opportunities for students of color. And it's, like, real bad. From there we spend a bit of time thinking through the recent Docent drama at the Art Institutes of Chicago. Honestly, if this isn't an argument for the importance of cross-racial solidarity, we're running out of time to figure out what is. We also touch on M.I.T. and the project of continually making space for scientific racism under the guise of intellectual diversity. It's...all...so...tiring. 

Stick it out to the end for some really great book recs and thoughts on decompressing. And truly, stay safe out there.

Further Reading:

Happy October! We're collectively exhausted by the mid-point in the semester and, yet, we're all still required to move forward as normal. This week, Nic and James diverge from their usual format to discuss the relationship between "work-life" and "personal life" and how these areas spill over into one another. In short, the episode explores the types of boundary work conditioned by the external expectations brought on by institutional life and the internal pressures to remain accountable to ourselves and loved ones. Please (we beg you!) do not expect any answers or revelations as you tune in. Instead, take this opportunity to explore the variables you have control over and those you don't. And, of course, remember that it's okay to not have it all figured out just yet. 

What We're Reading:

Wherein we are still here, and do indeed remain queer, but all the rest feels a bit more...abstract. 

This week we're thinking through the continued struggles of working in a boring dystopia. Longtime listeners will remember our cautious enthusiasm for the seemingly imminent return of in-person conferencing. And God laughed, or something.

We spend some time thinking through the ethics of accommodating student need while still trying to maintain some sense of standards or purpose (more on that one to come, for sure) and try to understand why some people keep hearing Reform when we're so clearly saying DEFUND THE POLICE (yes, even the campus ones). 

And then book recs, thoughts on fall, that sort of thing. Stay sane!

Further Reading:

The new semester remains an unrelenting one. Vaccine skeptics, student and faculty fatigue, and masks galore. Definitely one for the books. At least we've got each other, right? RIGHT?! Nic and James discuss the highs and lows (mostly lows) of navigating the current higher ed terrain and want better for all of us. Nay, demand better. We deserve. Amidst the chaos of classroom management and praying for that one student to put their mask above their nose (why is that SO hard?!), the new semester presents new opportunities and ecologies of being with each other that we're trying to make sense of together. Sometimes all you have to do is keep your masked head up strong, fam.

Further Reading:

Like those cartoon dinosaurs from the 90s, WE'RE BACK! It's a new year, a new season (whatever that means) and...honestly not enough has changed. We've got a lot of thoughts about the only thing any of us are thinking about these days: Covid in the classroom. What even is socially distancing in an overcrowded classroom? How are we still this unprepared for in-person instruction? Would it kill people to just wear a mask? And any bets on how long before it all comes crashing down? Not to be a downer, but this is a really crappy way to start the year. So maybe that means it's all uphill from here? A girl can dream...

Further Reading:

Happy August! When was the last time you focused (and we mean "focused focused") on your breath? Breathing is so important, y'all.  The summer conversation series continues with Dr. Angela N. Castañeda, Lester Martin Jones Professor of Anthropology at DePauw University, who is an absolute delight, just plain brilliant, and reminded us to slow down and focus on breathing for a minute. Listen in as Dr. Castañeda offers important reflections on language, culture, identity, and giving birth/life. Did we mention she is a practicing doula? Seriously, you don't want to miss this episode. Tune in, learn something new, and have a box of tissues handy for a much-needed (and deserved) happy cry! 

What We're Reading:

Welcome Back! Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. Or else time is a flat circle (just keep reminding yourself). But we're back with an interview that was absolutely worth whatever wait you did or didn't have. This time we're joined by James's colleague and comrade from Bronx Community College, the incredible Dr. Noah Jampol. What follows is an honest, open, and genuinely thought-provoking conversation about knowledge, learning, teaching, and the ethics of working in higher ed at, let's just call it like we see, the pretty likely end of days. But we promise it's not all doom and gloom. Listen in to hear about the struggles of work and academic life balance, the difficulties of dealing with mental health while trying to be a working professional, and how the hell so many of us all seem to have imposter syndrome. It's certainly worth your time!

Further Reading:

Because summer is busy and scheduling is hard, our Summer Conversation Series is going to be delayed by a week this time around. But worry not! We decided to take the opportunity to catch up on some academia news/triggering mess that has been floating around this summer. We've got thoughts on Nikole Hannah-Jones (thoughts recorded before she fully ghosted UNC, stay tuned for updates and also we stan) and Howard Dean Phylicia Rashad making a whole ass out of herself and that school. And we end on some optimistic news about the future of the humanities. No reading suggestions this week, but we will be back next week with a great interview and all the books you don't have time for. 

Further Reading:

Happy Summer! Well, at least in academia. As promised, we're switching things up a bit this summer to bring you some really great conversations with some of the people who have been important parts of our intellectual journey. Bravely up first, Dr. Ariel Rawson has some thoughts about the end of grad school, the importance of finding an intellectual community, and the difficulties of producing knowledge with high political stakes. It's a really great conversation for any and all, but particularly if you're interested in thinking through the human costs of intellectual labor and the value of heartfelt mentorship. Special shouts out to all the great mentors out there. You truly are doing the Lord's work!

What We're Reading:

In this week’s episode, Nic reflects on and enjoys the blank spaces in his calendar and James makes the final push to the end of the semester before the summer break. The duo check-in about the role of Learning on the Job within the ever-expansive ecosystem of higher education. We get a little “meta” but we promise we’re not like the other podcasts. We’re a ~cool~ podcast. Shout out to all the minoritized faculty making magic!

The theme is silence. Are you silent? Or – *in best Oprah voice* – are you being SILENCEDT? The recent moves around D.I.E. work (see Lesson #16) within higher education are becoming institutionalized in ways that leave both Nic and James skeptical. We’ll see where this journey leads… James continues the uncomfortable conversation around silence, its material effects on the tenure track, and how a current and new role he’s undertaking raises concerns around what’s not said. Finally, Nic and James try to make sense of the absurdity and disrespect of the decision to not grant tenure to a Pulitzer Prize-winning, MacArthur Genius Grant having, New York Times 1619 Project founding, and all-around GOAT Nikole Hannah-Jones. They may try to silence us, but we’ve got something to say. WHEW!

tw/ Mess and Messiness

This week James and Nic have a few challenging conversations and revisit some ghosts of grad school past. And girl, it gets a bit messy. Hopefully messy in a productive way, but time will have to tell on that one. We think about the politics of self-promotion, the importance of being mindful of those around (and more importantly below) you, and why it always feels so weird to air dirty laundry, even though we know everybody's got some.

From there we take some time to think through the continued (increasing?) bad faith attacks on higher education from politicians and what it means for those of us trying to do the work while we revisit the moral imperative to rethink student loan debt/college affordability. Also did you know that you used to be able to get tenured at **institution redacted** with ONE DAMN ARTICLE! The nerve of this place. 

Also SHOUT OUT to the newly minted Doctors in your life, and to the special one in ours, Dr. Ariel Rawson! 

Last thing, send us an email sometime: lotjpod@gmail.com We'd love your book recommendations, but honestly it's also just cool to hear what you think! 

Further Reading:

This week, James and Nic collectively sigh at the exhaustion of the moment but don’t dwell there too long. Everything these days feels so heavy. This is especially true and felt among the Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities who are doing their selfless acts of getting vaccinated all the while being blamed for basically everything. Check out how the Najavo Nation could be the first on the continent to achieve herd immunity! Remember, friends, there are also moments of joy in the every day even as the first full academic year of the pandemic comes to a close!

As an attempt to de-mystify the writing process while on the tenure-track, James asks Nic to get vulnerable and share developments with recent projects. Nic offers some personal insights about the early stages of writing an academic book, tips for building a community of writers, and dealing with perfectionism. There are so many moving parts – whew! – but we’ve got this.

Further Reading & Shameless Plugs:

Whose idea was Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, anyway?

This week, we're heading into the weeds of Spring semester, with thoughts about grading, conferencing, the "lost year" of COVID times and more. We spend perhaps a bit too much time on the innovations of TikTok as an archive of student feeling, and then get appropriately incensed by academia's continued disrespect for scholars of color (your turn up, UVA). Along the way we maybe coin a new phrase (obviously you're welcome to use it) and continue to come up with really good reasons for spreading the joy/labor of diversity work around a bit. Sometimes this place is exhausting. 

Also somehow this keeps being a part of the conversation we have before the show and it never quite makes it to the air, but in the spirit of the necessity/value in preaching to the choir, here are some readings we've found helpful in terms of making sense of the current anti-Asian environment. Added bonus, James can confirm they're very teachable in your composition-type settings:

This week, Nic and James discuss the impending conference season (don’t go to hotel rooms with strangers), email etiquette (double check recipients), making the world a more accessible place, and “cancel culture” (do better former Dean Bilek). They also discuss what it means for QPOC to advocate on behalf of themselves, but also the necessity for doing so in today’s otherwise violent and ridiculous world hell bent on silencing us. Nic and James round out the conversation with some stellar book recommendations and some general food for thought. Remember to thank a librarian this week!

Further reading:

This week, one of us is halfway vaccinated! Guess which! 

We've got an alarming amount of thoughts about the politics of care in the pandemic, the vaccine as "endpoint", what to make of the current state of the job market, how much TikTok counts as a work skill, and a ton of other things. We get into the state of graduate school at this moment in the history of higher ed. le sigh. There are some stellar book recs for your dark days and Nic has some genuinely eye opening insights about care, the pandemic, and limits of knowledge in the moment. A lesser podcast would tell you to rate and subscribe at this point.

Further reading:

This week, Nic and James celebrate being COVID-19 free but have plenty of thoughts about the state of the country, higher ed, and the hills some people are willing to (figuratively) die on. So much happens so quickly! The two traverse through the rocky terrain of getting tenured at an “elite” institution (that and the audacity of other institutions to not pay their employees a single dime for their labor). Truly, we’re living through some bizarre times. Nic and James cleanse the palette with amazing book recommendations and gesture at a better future to end their conversation.

Further Reading

This week brings the joy of new things and a refreshingly bright perspective on the state of the world and higher education. JK! We have thoughts about the University of Kansas and the purpose of a college in society. And so many other things, like the ethics of Lady G and how to understand the white ga(ys)ze ruining Mexico. What this one lacks in structure, it more than makes up for in spicy takes. But don't just take our word for it, check out these positively tantalizing show notes. Book recs and ways to unwind at the end if you stick around. 

And hey, if you're in the New York City-area and looking for a job, have we got an opportunity for you: http://clags.org/wp-content/uploads/Programming-and-Events-Coordinator-Job-Description-2_09_2021.pdf

Further reading:

Y’all heard about Game Stop and stocks and trading, right? Well, for this week’s episode, Nic and James dive into the messy worlds of political economy, the dead, and the new semester’s possibilities. And, when we say “messy,” we mean “messy messy.” The duo talk through the limitations of financial institutions under the current iteration of capitalism, as well as the gatekeeping at institutions of higher education. They’re similar. Yet, different. Ultimately, both sectors make promises they can’t keep and keep poor people poor. *deep, deep sigh* Also, WATER! James and Nic end with some notes on their current reading lists and offer up some advice for how to effectively approach the semester.

Further Reading: