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Your Words Unleashed Podcast, hosted by author and writing coach Dr. Leslie Wang, helps women scholars master their writing habits and publish a book that matters.
104 Episodes
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Send us Fan Mail As political attacks on colleges and universities accelerate across the United States, what’s happening in higher education is increasingly a warning sign for democracy itself. In this episode, Leslie speaks with Alison Gash, Professor and Department Head of Political Science at the University of Oregon, about coordinated efforts to undermine academic freedom—from curriculum bans and anti-DEI policies to broader attempts to weaken critical inquiry. Together, they examine why ...
Send us Fan Mail Have you achieved a lot in your academic career — but something still feels off? In this episode, I explore the identity shifts that often hit academics in mid-career, especially around getting tenure. Drawing on Arthur Brooks' provocative Atlantic essay on professional change, I unpack why purpose naturally evolves over time — and why that's nothing to fear. I talk about the post-tenure slump no one warns you about, the quiet fear of becoming irrelevant, and why academia's n...
Send us Fan Mail Many women in academia are diagnosed with ADHD later in life, often after years of burnout, shame, and being told they’re “just anxious” or “not organized enough.” In this episode, you’ll hear why that experience is so common, and why it has far more to do with systems than with personal failure. I talk with Karen Costa, author of An Educator’s Guide to ADHD, about what ADHD actually is (and isn’t), how deficit-based assumptions shape classrooms and feedback culture, and why ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leslie sits down with Jennifer Polk, PhD—career coach, educator, and founder of From PhD to Life—to talk about what it really takes to leave academia and build a fulfilling career beyond the tenure track. Jen shares why the hardest part of career transition often isn’t strategy, but mindset: the stories academics tell themselves about stability, meaningful work, and whether they’re “enough” for roles outside higher ed. Together, they unpack common misconcepti...
Send us Fan Mail In this milestone 100th episode of Your Words Unleashed, I reflect on my podcasting journey and share one of the most courageous pieces of writing I’ve ever published: “The Case for Radically Inclusive Writing.” After more than four years of podcasting—and major life and career transitions along the way—I look back on how using my voice consistently has shaped my values, my work, and my willingness to speak candidly about what’s broken when it comes to academic writing. The h...
Send us Fan Mail Many academic authors have little sense of what happens once a book is finished, especially when it comes to publicity. In this episode, I talk with Amanda Ice, a senior publicist at Harvard University Press, about what happens behind the scenes once a book is finished and why so much of that work is invisible to authors. We walk through the publicity timeline, what authors can realistically expect from a university press, and why collaboration with your publicist matte...
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com! The three ways Leslie can help you with coaching & developmental editing: #1: Six-month Your Words Unleashed signature book writing coaching program. Through 8 hour-long sessions tailored to your own needs and goals, we will pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck. We’ll figure out personalized solutions and strategies so you can create direction and lasting momentum with your book writing. I’ll also p...
Send us Fan Mail As another intense year in academia comes to a close, you might be feeling equal parts relieved and completely wiped out. In this episode, I’m reflecting on what 2025 looked like in my business and why I intentionally chose to do less—and felt better for it. Then I’ll walk you through a simple, low-pressure reflection that can help you figure out how to do just 10% less next semester without blowing up your career or your conscience. This isn’t about quitting your...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leslie talks with Dr. Abbie E. Goldberg—Professor of Clinical Psychology at Clark University and a leading scholar on LGBTQ+ families—about writing, research, and staying motivated when academic life feels overwhelming. Abbie reflects on how she came to see research as a form of storytelling and why life transitions for more than two decades. They dive into the realities of academic writing: how to decide when a project no longer fits, why setting something a...
Send us Fan Mail In this deeply moving conversation, Leslie talks with Dr. Katherine In-Young Lee, a higher ed coach and former tenured professor, about what happens when academic life and caregiving collide. After her father’s stroke, Katherine became a full-time caregiver for both her parents—a journey that reshaped her understanding of productivity and purpose. Together, they discuss the emotional, cultural, and institutional challenges that come with caring for aging parents while s...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leslie explore the surprising perspectives people only gain after leaving academia. After three years outside higher ed, I’ve noticed unexpected shifts in my own habits, mindset, and relationships—so I asked thousands of former academics what changed for them once they left, too. Nearly 100 people responded, sharing candid reflections about work, health, identity, and what they thought they’d miss…but didn’t. Today, I walk you through the top themes that emer...
Send us Fan Mail What would you do if your inbox filled with threats, your home address was posted online, or your university launched an “investigation” after a viral tweet? In this episode, Dr. Heather Steffen, director of Faculty First Responders, joins Leslie to reveal how professors can protect themselves from doxxing, harassment, and politically motivated attacks. Dr. Steffen shares: The anatomy of a smear campaign—and how they spread through right-wing mediaThe essential digital ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leslie welcomes back book publishing expert Dr. Laura Portwood-Stacer, author of The Book Proposal Book and the new release Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers. Laura shares her practical, step-by-step approach to developmental editing and how she helps authors create manuscripts that truly resonate with presses and readers. She discusses the most common mistakes scholarly writers make, how to clarify your goals, ...
Send us Fan Mail Feeling drained, scattered, or like your brain is running on fumes? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to give up on your writing. In this episode, Leslie shares what to do when your capacity is at rock bottom but you still want to keep your research alive. This episode includes strategies for protecting your mental space, rethinking what “counts” as writing, and tracking small wins that actually build momentum. Writing doesn’t have to be big or impressive to matter—it...
Send us Fan Mail How do you keep teaching with integrity when the ground beneath higher education is constantly shifting? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Brielle Harbin—political scientist, award-winning educator, and founder of Your Cooperative Colleague. Brielle helps scholars, especially women and nonbinary faculty of color, create values-aligned academic lives that resist burnout and grind culture. We get into what it takes to build classrooms rooted in trust, courage, and respect in the...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Words Unleashed, I’m getting back to basics—the kind of writing advice that makes the biggest difference for scholars who want their work to actually connect. Too often, academic writing gets stuck in old habits that make our ideas harder (and way less fun) to read. So today, I’m sharing my top writing pet peeves: the little quirks I see over and over that keep brilliant scholars from sounding like themselves. I’ll talk about why these habits sho...
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out Leslie's website at www.YourWordsUnleashed.com! The three ways Leslie can help you with coaching & developmental editing: #1: Six-month Your Words Unleashed signature book writing coaching program. Through 8 hour-long sessions tailored to your own needs and goals, we will pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck. We’ll figure out personalized solutions and strategies so you can create direction and lasting momentum with your book writing. I’ll also p...
Send us Fan Mail Feeling the weight of the upcoming semester? You’re not alone. In this episode, I explore why so many academics head into fall already exhausted—and how you can change that. I share a simple but powerful three-step approach to reduce your teaching load without sacrificing student learning. You’ll hear why it’s essential to put your own priorities at the center of your semester planning and how a few intentional choices now can save you from burnout later. Whether ...
Send us Fan Mail Acquisitions editors, developmental editors, copy editors... How many different kinds of editors are there? What do they even do? And what are they looking for in a project? On this episode I chat with Alison Kalett, Editorial Director at Princeton University Press, where she supports a team of six science editors and acquires books in biology. She's been their science editor since 2007, and prior to this, she was editor for American History at Cornell University Press. ...
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever asked yourself, “How much time do I actually need to write in order to make progress?” If so, then this episode is for you. Whether you’ve been struggling to find time to write this summer or gearing up for the fall semester, you’ll find practical insights and compassionate advice to help you move forward. Leslie explores the pros and cons of popular strategies and gives tips to help you protect your writing time, build momentum, and break tasks into...
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