Unless we’re wrong, having to be right all the time will lead to lots of problems. (See what we did there?) In this episode, we will explore the risky nature of needing to be right all the time. Also check: Principles by Ray Dalio — https://www.principles.com/ Episode 41 — Do You Listen? — https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/ep-41-do-you-listen Episode 31 — What You Don't Know You Don't Know — https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/ep-31-what-you-don-t-know-you-don-t-k...
Apr 22, 2022•32 min•Ep. 51
Early on, you discovered you liked science class better than other classes, say composition, or history, or literature. There is nothing wrong with preferences. You may even have liked some of those non-science classes, if not as much. But some classes, you hated. Maybe you could avoid gym class or drama class. But there was no hiding from math. And it keeps showing up in your scientific environment. What is a scientist to do when these undesirable subjects keep rearing their ugly heads? Check t...
Apr 08, 2022•32 min•Ep. 50
While it’s easy to complain about what’s lacking, it’s productive to focus on what’s going for you, what’s working for you, and what’s supporting you. Awareness of the pluses offers you opportunities to capitalize on the assets available to you. So this episode will shine a light on some things that you might not be noticing, or may even be hidden to you—until now. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and wa...
Mar 25, 2022•34 min•Ep. 49
If it wasn’t for the tasks, the people, the bureaucracy or the pressure, you would love your job. After all, no other careers have these demands… Hmm, perhaps your expectations need a tune up. But let’s say you got dismally realistic – how can you face all of the barriers to a successful and satisfying career, especially in the rarified air of science? Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more pract...
Mar 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 48
And the blind shall see! It’s easy to acknowledge we don’t know everything but it can be hard to admit we don’t know when things get specific. It’s even harder when we don’t know what we are missing. In this episode we will discuss our human reactions to our blind spots and how to get past them. Check Episode 31 ( https://bitesizebio.com/podcast/episo... ) and the article "There's No Such Things As A Comfort Zone" ( http://veraclaritas.com/theres-no-suc... ) Listen to all episodes of The Happy S...
Feb 25, 2022•25 min•Ep. 47
Ah, reason. It can be so comforting. But to the uninitiated it can be quite frightening. In this episode, learn how to spread your hard won reason without causing a panic or making enemies. Check the articles http://veraclaritas.com/escape-the-tr... and http://veraclaritas.com/you-cant-thin.... Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can...
Feb 11, 2022•38 min•Ep. 46
Freedom has been associated with politics, philosophy, lifestyle, morality, relationships, even guns. But what about science? In this episode, we will posit the importance of freedom in science, and the forces that would make it not so. Listen in! Check out Episode 16 — The Challenge of Differentiating Between Science & Scientific Opinion - https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/ep-16-the-challenge-of-differentiating-between-science-scientific-opinion Listen to all episodes of Th...
Jan 28, 2022•43 min•Ep. 45
Ah, the elusive fantasy of work — life balance. Think about it, can you name anyone who consistently delivers on it? If you have ever experienced a magical moment that looked like it, were you able to sustain it? Since work — life balance seems to be as rare as leprechauns mounted on unicorns, perhaps something more achievable is in order. In this episode we will discuss something more effective and more doable than “balance”. Read the article “Perfectionism Is Setting the Bar Too Low ” ( http:/...
Jan 07, 2022•38 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, we will decide whether you need a break, a nap, a vacation, a new job, or a new career. You don't have to burn the candle at both ends to make a success of your scientific career. Join us to figure out how to refresh, reset, retool, or redesign, as the case may be. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help. Downlo...
Dec 10, 2021•55 min•Ep. 43
Do you have someone chattering at you all day long and that someone is you? If so, you're in good company. This is the common human condition. Sometimes though it feels like it's getting in the way. If you've ever had that experience, you will enjoy this episode as we unpack the voice in your head. We will be talking about how to manage this ever present voice and how to use it to best effect. Read the articles http://veraclaritas.com/do-you-have-a... and http://veraclaritas.com/the-problem-w......
Nov 26, 2021•51 min•Ep. 42
If your closest friends were instructed to list your three most prominent qualities, would “good listener” be among them? If not, tune in to this episode to learn how to be an Olympic level listener. In fact, tune in especially if you question the value of being a good listener. If you are already a good listener, you are probably going to tune in without further prompting -- because you value good listening. So, everybody, tune in! Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://...
Nov 12, 2021•41 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, which was recorded live, you'll learn how to properly wield humility—and still get credit where credit is due. How on earth will people ever know how great a job you do unless you tell them? How indeed. It seems like being humble will only cause you to live in a shadow. But is that really so? Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful sc...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, which was recorded live, you'll discover more about what it takes to go from being merely efficient to optimized. Have you ever been accused of being a control freak or an obsessive in the lab? Sure, you just want to get things right. But there is a better way. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help. Download T...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, which was recorded live, you'll discover how to do more than just get paid or add another line to your CV/résumé — and how you can be a scientist and be happy at the same time. This episode is aimed at working scientists. It's more than just a job to you. It may even be more than just a career — it's your life. You want to get the most out of it and you actually want to enjoy it — and that's not too much to ask. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://theh...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 38
In this episode, I interview a scientist who found out the lab is not a required component, in fact sometimes not even a desirable component for a real career in science. The interviewee: my co-host Nick Oswald PhD., founder of Bitesizebio.com. Hear us go all inception on what is necessary to become a happy scientist. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and succ...
Sep 17, 2021•42 min•Ep. 37
Life would be great...if it wasn’t for my boss. You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that. But let's face it, bosses are a necessary part of life. And they can serve many useful purposes. So how can you make sure they make your life better, not worse? In this episode, we will discuss how to manage your boss in such a way that your life and work get better. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more prac...
Sep 03, 2021•54 min•Ep. 36
The English poet John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” So how do you get off of your Island and start including others in your work? It may be the people that work for you, the people that work with you, or even the people for whom you work. Tune into this episode to find out more. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful ...
Aug 20, 2021•47 min•Ep. 35
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. You had such high expectations. You had plans. And then came the crushing blow. Now what? In this episode, we deal with disappointment. And by “deal with”, we don’t just mean discuss, we mean handle it and put it to bed. If you could use some of that, come and join us. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scienti...
Aug 06, 2021•43 min•Ep. 34
Many of us look back with nostalgia to a time when we used to just live in our imagination. But for so many of us, the necessities of math and hard science have made us forgo all that. What if you could take all that hard won math and science forward and still have the imagination? In this episode, we will discuss how to make imagination a regular part of your happy scientific career. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed...
Jul 23, 2021•39 min•Ep. 33
You are educated, informed, and engaged. You are opinionated, and rightly so. And as you look around, you see that your lab, your industry, maybe the entire world is completely on the wrong track. So do you speak up or do you keep quiet? In this episode, we will consider when and how you should speak your peace and when it is time to hold your powder. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practi...
Jul 09, 2021•41 min•Ep. 32
There's what you know, what you don't know...then there's what you don't know you don't know. That third category is the biggest and it's the one where all the fun stuff is. So how do you get into that third expanse and make effective use of it? We're going to tackle that in this episode. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help....
Jun 25, 2021•31 min•Ep. 31
How much is too much when it comes to helping others? In our quest to be collaborative, we can make other people's priorities the only things that matter. Where is the line when it comes to giving? And when are there declining returns? In this episode we will examine the healthy way to give and the unhealthy way. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successfu...
Jun 11, 2021•42 min•Ep. 30
So it has finally happened: you are ready to admit that you need some help. So now what? In this episode, find out how to get others to willingly and eagerly assist you in accomplishing whatever it is you need to get done. In short, find out that you are not alone. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help. Download The Happy Scie...
May 28, 2021•38 min•Ep. 29
There’s the right way, the wrong way, and {pick one: your government’s way, your industry’s way, your university’s way, your company’s way, your PI’s way}. What about your way? Before you give up on that notion, have a listen to this episode. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help. Download The Happy Scientist Reference Pack to...
May 14, 2021•41 min•Ep. 28
From politics to Star Wars, hope has been held out as the answer to all our problems. But let's face it, it took another couple Star Wars movies before things worked out. So when is hope useful, when is it useless, and when does it actually get in the way? We'll cover all that in this episode. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can ...
Apr 30, 2021•31 min•Ep. 27
Is gratitude for saps? Is it irrelevant? Is it a nice-to-have or is it a deal maker? And what does this have to do with happiness and especially, science? In this episode we will unpack gratitude, its costs, its rewards, and how to effectively implement it. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on being a happy and successful scientist, we can help. Download The Happy Scientist Re...
Apr 16, 2021•41 min•Ep. 26
You may claim an inexhaustible allegiance to opportunity and a devotional belief in possibility. Yet a prevalent attitude of scarcity has a way of lurking in the shadows, surreptitiously sliding in among the positive things and exacting a heavy toll. Scarcity is a low grade fever, it is a virus that syphons off energy and makes itself more and more dominant. In this episode we will show you where to look for scarcity that has snuck into your work and life, how to undo it and never let it back in...
Apr 02, 2021•54 min•Ep. 25
“It depends.” How many of your positions in your work and your life are dependent on something else? And what is that “something else” based on? At some point, you have to get to the bottom of things. In this episode we will discuss learning how to wield unconditionality as an indispensable step in learning the fundamentals of discovery. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and want more practical tips on be...
Mar 19, 2021•47 min•Ep. 24
Do you ever fantasize about how much better your life and career would be if you could control everything in your world? An occasional idle fantasy about control is a diversion. But becoming consumed with control is rarely successful -- and always stressful. In this episode we will discuss a different approach used by many successful people to get better results at a lower cost. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/ If you enjoyed this ...
Mar 05, 2021•44 min•Ep. 23
Most of us have to-do lists. In fact, you may be using sophisticated tools for this purpose, and you are well versed in their use. But some days you only complete your list at the edge of exhaustion -- or not at all. What went wrong? It may have been all the things not on your to-do list. So what if you had a Not-To-Do list? In this episode, we will discuss an effective technique that combats how human nature sabotages your intentions. Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https...
Feb 19, 2021•27 min•Ep. 22
