The Exchanges Discourse - A podcast about early career publishing in academia

This episode I talk to past journal author Berilsu Tarcan (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), about the paper she co-authored Repositioning Craft and Design in the Anthropocene: Applying a More-Than-Human approach to textiles as part of our recent special issue. We discuss the challenges of publishing design and artifact related research, as well as exploring Berilsu’s current research focus. We close with considerations and advice for authors looking to submit their papers to Exchanges and other academic journals.

For more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors. Or to read Berilsu’s article visit: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v10i2.973 ---

Episode Index

We talk with past journal author Rebecca Stone (University of Warwick) about her paper Scaling Up: The pedagogical legacy of Then & Now, as well as her work on US presidential history – especially pertaining to Harry Truman. We move on to discuss pandemic lessons for effective digital pedagogies and what students can learn from trying and failing. As always, we offer advice for early career and first time academic authors in publishing a journal article.

For more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors.

Digital Pedagogies Library: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/dal/digitalpedagogylibrary/

Episode Index

For more on publishing with Exchanges, see our online guide for authors.

The art of conversation is one thing, but the application of creating a Conversation Article is another. In this discursive episode, the editor looks at the rationales, approaches and format pertaining to this exciting and engaging article format. With tips and advice for first time authors, along with exploring why such pieces mater, the episode is an essential listen for anyone considering submitting one to the Exchanges journal.

For more on article formats and submissions, see our guide for authors page.

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In this episode the Editor-in-Chief talks in some depth about one of the Exchanges journal’s article submission formats: critical reflections. He explores what they are, why they matter and how authors might go about writing one for the Journal.

Episode Index:

For an earlier discussion see this blog post. Or to access Exchanges submission guidelines visit here.

In our final episode of 2022 we talk to independent scholar and author Colin Hutchinson. Our guest talks briefly about their research around the concept of the social novel and the 1980s, before we move on to reflect on his recent article End of the Line: The unpublished novels of Anita Mason. This appeared in the Autumn 2022 issue (Exchanges v10.1). As an established author, Colin shares his advice pertaining to publishing and writing, with a particular focus on capturing your own voice and techniques for clarifying your text.

This episode’s guest is young scholar Pavel Fedotov, based at the University of Manchester. We talk about his studies, but mainly about his recent article for Exchanges (Exchanges v10.1) entitled: Critical Analysis of the Electric Vehicle Industry: Five forces and strategic action fields. As always, the episode wraps up with suggested advice on early career and first-time academic journal authors, focusing in on how to successfully overcome trepidations at the point of submission.

In this episode we talk to Huayi Huang (Usher Institute of Health and Wellbeing, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland) about his work and publications. We focus in on Huayi’s recent article – Reflections from Research Practice: Realism and its reality, coming to know this, and working out its mechanisms of socio-material change – which appeared in the Autumn 2022 issue (Exchanges v10.1). In a broad conversation we discuss realism, knowledge systems, compromises and normalising change. As always, the episode wraps up with suggested advice on early career and first-time academic journal authors, focusing in on how to successfully overcome trepidations at the point of submission.

In this episode we talk to Simon Varwell (SPARQS, Edinburgh, UK) about his work and publications. We focus in on Simon’s recent article – A Literature Review of Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation: Lessons for contemporary student engagement – which appeared in the Autumn 2022 issue (Exchanges v10.1). In a wide ranging conversation we discuss Arnstein’s relevance in various sectors today, explore student partnerships and representation within tertiary education alongside reflections on effective peer-reviewer practice. As always, the episode wraps up with suggested advice for early career and first time authors looking to publish within academic journals.

In this episode we talk to Harriet Richmond (Organisational Development Consultant for Research Active Staff, University of Warwick, UK) about her work and publications. We focus on her recent article entitled The Use of Collage in Autoethnography, which appeared in the Autumn 2022 issue (Exchanges v10.1). Our lively discussions also touch on the marketisation of higher education, the Non-Traditional Research Methods Network, locating oneself within a discipline and the role ‘organisational stories’ play in defining and propagating an institution’s predominant cultural impetus. As always, we finish by chatting about advice for postgraduate and early-stage researchers in terms of publishing, and especially dealing with ‘challenging’ reviewer feedback.

Stemming from a question and discussion at a recent journal and publishing workshop, the interdisciplinary Exchanges journal's Editor-in-Chief offers a few thoughts about the qualities he considers makes a good reviewer. From an ability to deliver (and respond) on time to feedback requests, through to a sense of self-awareness and academic rigor, this short episode offers a little food for thought on the matter.

For more about becoming a peer-reviewer with Exchanges, read our online guide.

In this episode we talk to Kwasu David Tembo (Lecturer, Humanities and Social Science, Ashesi University, Accra, Ghana) about his research and publications; focusing on the Exchanges article Social and Spatial Representations of the Nerd in Donnie Dark, which appeared in our most recent special issue on The Lonely Nerd special issue (Exchanges, v9.3). We discuss representation within nerd culture, take a segue into the fictional universe of Doctor Who, before examining issues of belonging, identity and community within various subcultural groups. As always, the episode also explores authorial advice for postgraduate and early career researchers in terms of publishing, and especially dealing with ‘challenging’ reviewer feedback.

In this episode we talk to Sharon Coleclough (Senior Lecturer, Culture, Heritage and Society, Staffordshire University, UK) about her research and publications; focusing on her Exchanges article So Many Ways to be an Outsider: ‘Nerdism’ and ethnicity as signifiers of otherness which appeared in our recent Lonely Nerds special issue. We talk about her research into representation, and her exciting progress into new avenues of publication and research. The episode touches on advice for postgraduate and early career researchers in terms of establishing your personal brand, researching your passions and how to accept feedback on your writing more effectively.

In this episode we talk to scholar Alena Cicholweski (Institute of English and American Studies, University of Oldenburg, Germany), about her research and publications, especially her article ‘A place where everybody is a legendary hero… and a total dork’ which appeared in our recent Lonely Nerds special issue. We move on to talk about her experiences teaching academic writing and Muslin American cultural representations in pop culture. We finish as always by offering advice to potential early career authors for publishing in future issues of Exchanges and other journals.

In this episode we talk to Russian scholar Natalia Rumak (The Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University), about her research and publications, especially her article Sherlock and Shārokku: ‘Nerdy’ detectives in the West and in the East which appeared in our recent Lonely Nerds special issue. We move on to talk about the highs and lows of being a publishing academic, focusing in on issues of native and non-native speakers writing in different languages. We finish as always by offering advice to potential early career authors for publishing in future issues of Exchanges and other journals

This episode we talk to scholar, artist and past-Exchanges author, Francesca Brunetti (ISI Florence, Italy), about her paper Delicious Bodies, Beautiful Food, Powerful Pleasure, which appeared in the most recent issue of the Exchangesjournal (V9.2). Along the way we touch on desire and pleasure, food and sex, and cultural perceptions of the southern Italian women. We also talk about some of Francesca’s work in progress, alongside her advice for new authors too.

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If you’d like to be featured in a future episode, then find out here how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal.

We talk with Jon Braddy, Florida Gulf Coast University, about his paper Utilizing the Octothorpe (#): Schizoanalytic cartographies recognized in War Games, which appeared in the most recent issue of the Exchanges journal (V9.2). Along the way, aside from contrasting the trans-Atlantic weather differences, we look at passion how it can serve to evolve your own academic voice within your writing. We also discuss some areas of mutual challenges for authors and editors of scholarly journals, and reflect on the value and process of peer-review.

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If you’d like to be featured in a future episode, then find out here how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal.

If you’d like to be featured as a guest in a future episode, then find out here how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal.

In this episode I chat with visiting professor in English and Related Literature at the University of York, Monica Mastrantonio. Our initial conversation concerns her recent article in Exchanges, The Question of Time for Norbert Elias: Challenges of an interdisciplinary concept and approach towards time. As a result we discuss topics including the meaning of ‘figurational sociology’, the work of Norbert Elias and in particular how this allows us to better understand our own relationships with time. Contrasting the medieval experience with the present, Monica discusses how humanity increasingly utilises time as a framework for organising everything including the forging of interpersonal connections. We touch too on the concepts of ‘meaningful time’ and the value of diverse relationships. Moving on, our discussions move to explore Monica’s research and current publication plans, before we shift to examining some of her broader experiences in publishing. In particular, Monica shares her thoughts and advice for first time and early career authors.

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If you’d like to be featured in a future episode, then find out here how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal.

In this extended episode, we talk with researcher Huayi Huang of the University of Edinburgh about their research and publications. At the heart of our early discussions is Huayi’s excellent paper published in Exchanges volume 9 issue 1 - A Tasty Encounter with Routine Dynamics Ideas. Huayi goes on to clarify the relevance of routine dynamics thinking both in research and everyday contexts. Then the conversation progresses to encompass wider-ideas around the concepts of stability and change alongside considering the positive contributions early career researchers can make within public society. Naturally, as always, we also chat about our author’s current and future publication plans, before finishing with examining some thoughts on how to support early career researchers in their publication activities.

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If you’d like to be featured in a future episode, then find out here how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal.

In this episode Elloit Cardozo talks about his research activities, especially as they relating to his recent paper ‘The Sagacity of Words’: Gandhi and 21st Century Hip Hop. Elloit discusses how the paper was partly inspired from desires to provide an easier route for younger school and university students to gain a greater understanding of the life and times of Gandhi. While deploying an analytical lens empowered through Hip-Hop music might seem an unusual approach to some readers, Elloit explores how it offered him a fresh and exciting way to explore the topic. Elloit also takes us into his current publishing plans, and how The Big Lebowski factors into them, before finishing by offering advice to other early career researchers looking towards publishing their first paper.

Find out how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal here.

Read Mehdi and colleagues' paper in full here: A Teacher’s Autoethnography: The impact of lifelong experiences in shaping worldviews and teacher identity

Or find out how to submit your paper to Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal here.

We cap off a year for the journal and the podcast, with a look back at the contents of the last two issues of the year. Volume 8.4 was a special issue, dedicated to the Then & Now projects and looked at the experience of art students studying at Warwick over the past half a century. By contrast Volume 9.1 of Exchanges was a regular journal issue, and brought a selection of articles dealing with everything from ethnography to Norbert Elias to GMOs and Early Career Researcher experiences.

In this episode we talk with Dr Catherine Price of the University of Nottingham. We discuss her current research into ‘biochar’, along with her work on the ‘Anthropocene and More Than Human World’ project, which is leading to a future special issue of the journal. We touch on some of the benefits from collaborative authorship in academia, as well as how emerging professional networks can serve to enhance writing skills, enthusiasm and achievement for early career researchers. As always, we close we some words of advice for first-time academic authors.

In this summery episode we talking to one of the author contributors to our climate-fiction (clifi) special issue, Rob Horsfield. Touching on his current work with the NHS we move to examine some of the themes in his article concerning the works of Philip K Dick and the Anthropocene. Moving on we also discuss some of the challenges faced by first time academic authors, and the value especially of collaboration with editors, reviewers and fellow authors in improving our writing practice.

In this episode, I talk with WIRL-COFUND research fellow, Dr Doro Wiese, from the University of Warwick’s School of Languages & Culture. We discuss her current epistemological research, before focussing on her experiences with academic publication. As always, we finish with advice for those looking to publish academic work for the first time.

Edit: A transcript of this episode is now available (with thanks to Isabelle)

In this short episode we are pleased to be joined by Dr Mairi Gkikaki, from the University of Warwick, to talk about the recent paper she co-authored in the journal. Mairi talks a little about her own research background, before providing a spoken word version of the paper’s abstract, fleshing out some of the content and background in a little more detail. You can read the paper in Volume 7.3 of the Exchanges journal, or via the DOI https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v7i3.594.

In this episode we take a walkthrough the articles in the latest (June 2020) issue of the Exchanges journal. Alongside highlighting their themes, the editor provides a personal take on what excited him most about each article. You can read the latest issue by following this link: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v7i3 or searching for the Exchanges Journal at the University of Warwick

Find out more on the project at: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/applyingtostudy/currentstudents/thenandnow/