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Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we dig into how to give students feedback and why it's so hard! We start with the big reason it stings: students tend to tie their self-worth to the quality of their work, so a draft full of comments can feel like a verdict on them as a person. We talk about how to separate the work from the writer so feedback becomes a tool for growth. We also walk through our START framework for feedback that lands: Specific, Timely, Actionable, Respectful, and Targeted. Along the way we get into delivery, from quick comments to sitting down face to face, and why a meeting often saves time by letting students process feedback and ask questions before they spiral. A few favorite tactics come up too. Steph shares feed forward, where you talk through a student's outline and key points before they write to cut down on painful revisions later. We cover why you should never let hard feedback fester, the value of campus writing centers, and the small but mighty habit of having students respond to your comments instead of just accepting all the track changes. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we get personal. We recorded this one back in January 2025 and are just now sharing it, but the topic is too important to sit on. Mary and Steph both stepped away from their labs for a semester, one planned and one not, and we're talking about what that looked like, what we wish we'd done differently, and what we'd tell other mentors to have in place before they need it. We talk about the difference between preparing for a sabbatical you see coming and scrambling when a health challenge or life event pulls you away without warning. From making sure your students know who to go to, to keeping projects on track when you're not in the building, we cover the practical stuff that nobody really walks you through before it happens. Whether you're planning a leave or just want to be ready in case life has other plans, this conversation is one worth having now rather than later. Because every mentor is going to be unavailable at some point. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mentoring Matters, dig into the (unfortunately) age-old question: am I actually being productive, or just busy? Inspired by Cal Newport's Slow Productivity, we explore what it looks like to focus on fewer, higher-impact commitments, and why that matters not just for your own work, but for the quality of mentoring you can offer your students. We talk through how to evaluate new opportunities before you say yes, why the real time cost of a commitment is almost always more than you think, and how to stop wearing "busy" as a badge of honor. Spoiler: sometimes the most productive thing you can do is say no. Whether you're a new faculty member figuring out what to take on or a seasoned mentor feeling stretched thin, this one's for you. Our homework: try a time audit this week and notice what energizes you versus what drains you. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we tackle a question that's been on a lot of mentors' minds: how do we guide our graduate students in using AI without letting it replace the critical thinking skills we're trying to build? Mary gets honest about her hesitation to even bring up AI with her students, and Steph shares how she's been integrating tools like Claude and Notebook LM into her mentoring and teaching. Together, we explore the idea of training students to be AI-assisted scientists rather than AI-dependent ones, and what it looks like to shift from content creator to creative director in your own work. We dig into the real risk of skill atrophy when students hand off tasks they haven't yet mastered, and we land on a practical gut check: if you wouldn't be comfortable telling your advisor exactly how you used AI, it's time to rethink your approach. Whether you're already using AI in your mentoring or still figuring out where to start, this conversation will give you a framework for setting expectations, encouraging transparency, and helping your students build the AI literacy they'll need in their careers. Spoiler: it starts with just having the conversation. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Mentoring Matters, Steph shares how she approaches the start of a new semester with plans that actually survive reality. Instead of chasing perfection, she focuses on building sustainable systems: protecting time for deep thinking work, stress-testing your calendar, and breaking big goals into small, repeatable processes. She also tackles common faculty pain points, from mentoring high-achieving grad students who struggle with perfectionism to setting realistic thesis and dissertation timelines before panic season hits. Along the way, she shares practical tools she uses to keep projects moving when the semester gets chaotic, including a Kanban approach and structured accountability. Finally, she talks attention and technology: reducing social media and phone distraction, and helping students become AI-capable without cognitively offloading their education. The goal isn’t flawless performance — it’s growth, resilience, and progress you can sustain. If you are interested in having Steph or Mary do a workshop on graduate mentoring at your institution please reach out to Steph at [email protected] For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail Steph is back for another solo episode, continuing The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map series. This time she digs into why culture isn’t fluff—it’s strategy. You’ll hear how an abundance mindset shapes behavior, why fostering mutual support increases grit, and how team-building (yes, even a group hike) creates shared identity that lasts through the hard stuff. From ice cream to paper bags, Steph shares real examples from her lab and how you can build a culture that runs itself, even when you're out of town. Whether you’re building a new group or strengthening a veteran team, this episode offers practical ways to create a culture that sticks. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail Steph is back for another solo episode, drawing from The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map. This time focusing on helping grad students believe they can get better—and making sure they know what "better" even looks like. We talk growth mindset, how to normalize mistakes as part of the process, and why “kind is clear” isn’t just a Brene Brown soundbite—it’s a foundational mentoring principle. If your students are floundering, unclear expectations might be the root. Let’s fix that. Whether you're onboarding someone new or trying to re-align mid-program, this episode gives you practical language and mindset shifts you can use right away. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Steph Hansen for a solo mini-series of Mentoring Matters, diving deep into the concepts from our new book, The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map. This episode tackles the #1 challenge for faculty mentors: finding the time to do it well. Steph shares actionable strategies including Stephen Covey's "Big Rocks First," the Eisenhower Matrix, and effective delegation to help you reclaim your calendar. Discover why intentional mentoring isn't a luxury, but a critical investment that simplifies your entire academic program. And yes, she'll  share her strong opinions on useful figures in non-fiction books—because if a figure isn't truly helpful, why is it there? Whether you're new to mentoring or a seasoned pro, this episode offers practical tips to build a thriving graduate group. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mentoring Matters, we explore the transformative potential of generative AI tools like ChatGPT in the context of graduate student mentoring. As these cutting-edge technologies continue to advance, they offer unique opportunities to enhance the mentoring experience and support the growth and development of graduate students. We delve into the various ways in which ChatGPT and similar tools can be leveraged to provide personalized guidance, facilitate knowledge sharing, and foster meaningful interactions between mentors and mentees. From generating ideas for research projects to offering constructive feedback on written work, these AI-powered assistants have the potential to streamline and enrich the mentoring process. However, we also address the challenges and ethical considerations surrounding the use of generative AI in mentoring, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human connection and judgment. Join us as we navigate this exciting frontier and discuss how to effectively integrate these tools while preserving the essence of authentic mentorship. Whether you're a mentor, mentee, or simply interested in the future of graduate education, this episode offers valuable insights into the role of generative AI in shaping the mentoring landscape. PS- Steph did convince Mary to get on the AI bandwagon, and she's now a happy user of ChatGPT. Steph's pro tip: Just talk to it like a colleague and you'll be surprised how easily the conversation flows. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this (long awaited) episode of Mentoring Matters we discuss how to get our students started off strong at the beginning of the semester. Things we discussed include: How much Steph loves to planSetting goals and milestones for your students AND helping them understand your purpose behind the planEnjoy! For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Jodi McGill (Assistant Dean of Research and Graduate Students at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine) joined us to discuss what we learned in our last grad faculty book club. We read the book "Wellbeing at Work" by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter, which is from Gallup and CliftonStrengths-based. The book focuses on 5 pillars of wellbeing, a topic we've been very interested in lately. Some takeaways from this episode: Faculty need to thrive themselves before they can help students thriveEncouraging grad students to be comfortable enough to share their strugglesEveryone is different, and there are aspects that support wellbeing that may look different between studentsHow important it is to model work/life balance and the value we as faculty place on wellbeingFor actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail Time management can be a struggle for graduate students and faculty. In this episode we offer tips to make more efficient use of your time, with the goal of reducing everyone's stress. We discussed: Scheduling "the big rocks" (e.g. the important, big items) first and putting the "sand" around them (e.g. the smaller, urgent things)Understanding how much stuff you can really put on your plate, and ways to say "No"Calendar management tipsBeing realistic with when you work the best and why this might be different for you and your studentsThe necessity of reflection to find what's working and what's notNot losing sight of the important/mission serving pieces when the fires (e.g. emails) are such an easy distractionBeing intentional with how we spend our timeJoin us in our LinkedIn Group for more conversation!  The Graduate Mentorship Blueprint: a faculty forum For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we take you on a behind the scenes journey to hear about our graduate student interactions over a random week. Things we discussed: Being intentional with our timePlanning ahead to reduce the student's stress (and ours!!)Helping students prepare for job interviewsPreparing for student presentationsAnd that pesky fact that we do these mentoring things in addition to the rest of our faculty responsibilities!It takes constant contact to build a strong relationship with our students, which allows for deeper, more meaningful communication.We hope you found this snapshot of our weeks useful as you consider your own mentoring strategies. For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we share ideas for improving resiliency in our graduate students. Topics covered include: Angela Duckworth's book "Grit" and Liz Wiseman's "Impact Players" are two resources we discuss and recommendPassion is a part of resiliency, we discuss ways to foster passion in our studentsDeliberate practice: we suggest ways to pressure test our students to build those skills they need later in the defense, etc.We discuss how we identify the impact players on our teams and how we help develop others into impact players (ex. helping them maintaining ownership of a situation when it gets tough)Balancing building resiliency without causing damage to a student's confidence (and how personality/strengths assessments can help)For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss how we've used book clubs with our graduate students to enhance community and habit building. Mary talks about reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and Steph talks about reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.We discuss what worked, what we'd do differently next time, and what the students thought of it (because Mary did a survey!)Other topics include thinking about mentoring strategies with a big ROI and the importance of relationships. Plus we really want to encourage you to go listen to our Team Culture episode! It is so important! For actionable tips and strategies for mentoring please check out The Graduate Mentor's Trail Map available in paperback and ebook!  If you are enjoying this podcast please leave a rating or review which helps others find the conversation. Please share with others who would gain value from the show!