Career Discernment for Academics: An Interview with Self-Compassionate Professor

I’m grateful to Danielle De La Mare of the Self-Compassionate Professor for inviting me to do an interview that’s become “Episode 19: Career Discernment with Dr. Beth Godbee.”

This interview relates both my career discernment story and how I understand career discernment as a lifelong, ongoing process of finding and following the “strong yes.”

Here’s what Danielle says about the interview:

“Former professor, Dr. Beth Godbee, joins me for the first episode of Season 2! Dr. Godbee describes how to live life and career in process: open to imperfection, mindful of our bodies’ messages, and grounded in the process of ongoing decision making based on personal commitments.”

This screenshot shares the Self-Compassionate Professor podcast page with a grey and brown color scheme. In addition to sharing the podcast’s name, creator, and theme—“helping academics and former academics find wellness, meaning, purpose, and freedom”—it shares episode 19: “Career discernment with Dr. Beth Godbee,” along with a photo of Beth wearing black and pressing against a grey rock formation.

The interview runs over an hour, so here’s what to expect:

Early in the interview, I share the mantra “the absence of a strong yes is actually a no,” offer a grounding practice, define career discernment, and talk about my dissertation research in writing centers and what it’s taught me about epistemic injustice and trauma in higher education.

Mid-way through, we turn to questions about my decision to leave higher education, addressing grief, productivity pressures, the rhythms of work days, the problems of capitalism, relationships with money and education, and the shape of my career now.

Toward the end, questions about my business come up, including why it’s named Heart-Head-Hands, how I’m guided by the “strong yes,” what’s involved in learning + unlearning, and how I approach career discernment coaching. We end by talking about why different modes of decision-making and embodied knoweldges matter.

I’m excited (and nervous) to share this podcast and hope it offers some clarifying context to the frequently asked question: “What is career discernment?”

If you listen, I’d love to know what you feel and think. Reach out anytime.

—
This post is written by Beth Godbee, Ph.D. for Heart-Head-Hands.com. For related posts, check out “What Is Career Discernment?” and “What Matters to You Most? Career Discernment for YOUR Career Path.”

If you’re interested in learning more and possibly working together, register for a free consultation or for the e-course: “Career Discernment for Academics: Aligning Career with Commitments.”

Become a subscriber via Patreon to receive ongoing support for your efforts of striving to live for justice (social, racial, and environmental justice). And consider subscribing to the newsletter for additional resources and announcements. Thanks!