The Education-Focused Academic Podcast

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Christine Rivers and Associate Professor Anna Holland from the University of Surrey to discuss how intention, strategy, and courage can shape an education-focused academic career. The conversation explores their very different journeys into higher education, from industry, apprenticeships, and further education to academic leadership and professorship. Along the way, we discuss navigating academic systems, building confidence, finding mentors, and recognising the value of diverse career paths. A central theme of the episode is developing an academic portfolio with intention. Christine and Anna share their “compass” approach to career development and offer a powerful reminder: just because something does not yet exist does not mean you cannot build it. For education-focused academics, being brave, trusting yourself, and creating opportunities, sometimes with the help of trusted collaborators, can be part of shaping your own path in academia. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this special International Women’s Day episode of the Education-Focused Academic Podcast, we celebrate the women who inspire, mentor, and uplift us in academia and beyond.We reflect on what empowerment means for women in higher education, share personal stories about the women who shaped our journeys, and discuss the role of mentoring, sponsorship, and supportive networks in helping women thrive in academic careers.The conversation also explores the realities of navigating academia as women, finding your voice, challenging expectations, and embracing different leadership styles.A powerful theme throughout the episode is courage: the courage to pursue opportunities, to speak up, to support others, and to create new paths when they do not yet exist.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this episode, we are joined by Professor James Norman, Professor of Sustainable Design at the University of Bath, an engineer whose career began in industry and who later moved into academia to use education as a way to impact engineering practice. The conversation traces James’s unconventional journey from engineering and industry, through part-time teaching alongside professional practice, to becoming a professor whose work spans education, curriculum design, leadership, and industry transformation. We discuss promotion, rejection, and credibility, including the role of national recognition, writing for impact, and how industry experience can reshape how education-focused academics navigate the system. A central theme of the episode is purpose: challenging traditional academic pathways, protecting time for meaningful work, and using education as a lever to change industry practice, particularly in the context of sustainable engineering. Professor Norman also reflects on writing, creativity, AI, privilege, and why not all academic success needs to follow the same script.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this episode, we are joined by a Professor Xue Zhou - Professor of AI in Business Education and one of the UK’s first Deans of AI to discuss how expertise, focus, and curiosity can shape an education-focused academic career.The conversation traces Professor Zhou’s journey from engineering and digital teaching tools like Top Hat, through widening participation and pedagogic research, to becoming known for AI in education. Along the way, we discuss the realities of limited scholarship time, leadership expectations, and how education-focused academics often have to work harder to make their impact visible.A central part of the episode focuses on very practical uses of generative AI, from reducing admin through meeting summaries, to speeding up systematic literature reviews, and supporting fellowship and promotion applications. AI is framed as a a helpful way of protecting time for teaching, scholarship and leadership.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this episode, we are joined by Marios Kremantzis from the University of Bristol Business School to explore education-focused academic careers through the lens of scale, impact, and generative AI.Marios reflects on his journey from decision science into education-focused leadership, sharing insights on teaching large cohorts, designing fair assessments, supporting international students, and making education work visible and scholarly.The conversation looks at generative AI as a strategic consideration for education-focused academics, how it can support curriculum design, assessment, and academic workflows, while protecting the human-centred core of education.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this episode, Rushana turns from co-host to guest and talks about visibility and personal brand for career development. Together, we explore why many academics feel uneasy about becoming more visible, why personal branding is often misunderstood, and how education-focused colleagues can approach it in an authentic, and useful way.Drawing on her marketing background, Rushana shares how she began thinking intentionally about visibility, the role LinkedIn played in shaping her professional identity, and why sharing your work is less about “self-promotion” and more about contributing, supporting others, and making your expertise findable.We talk through the “Academics Get Visible” framework: from understanding your values and what you want to be known for, to identifying your audience and choosing simple starting points. The conversation is full of practical, realistic tips for building a presence that feels comfortable, sustainable, and genuinely aligned with an education-focused career.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

In this episode, Professor Sally Everett turns from co-host to guest as we talk honestly about an inclusive path to professorship and championing equity, diversity, and inclusion. Sally shares the personal and professional journey that led her into EDI work, from her own lived experiences to reinvigorating women’s networks, responding to disabled students’ allowance cuts, and getting involved with race equity initiatives and advisory boards.Together, we unpack the shift from “equality” to “equity”, the idea of becoming more “JEDI” (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion), and how structural inequalities and awarding gaps show up in higher education. The conversation is grounded in very practical examples, from inclusive documents and case studies to food choices at events, and offers encouraging advice for colleagues who want to be more inclusive but worry about “getting it wrong”.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.

Welcome to the first episode of The Education-Focused Academic podcast!Hosts Dr Rushana Khusainova and Professor Sally Everett open the series by exploring what it means to be an education-focused academic and why this career path deserves more visibility in higher education.In this conversation, we discuss:what “education-focused academic” means in practicewhy this role is timely and important across the sectorthe story behind our book How to Become an Education-Focused Professor, out in spring 2026Sally’s and Rushana’s own career journeyswhat this podcast will cover in future episodesWe also introduce upcoming conversations with contributors from the book, How to Become an Education-Focused Professor, who will share real experiences and insights from different universities and career stages.Thanks for joining us for Episode 1 — let’s keep the conversation going!Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.