# 374: Writing Authentically and Choosing an Aligned Career Path in Academia with Dr. Leslie Wang

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grad-school-femtoring-inclusive-grad-school-stories-personal-development-and-productivity-tips-for-first-gen-bipocs-20584/374-writing-authentically-and-choosing-an-aligned-career-path-in-academia-with-dr-leslie-wang
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grad-school-femtoring-inclusive-grad-school-stories-personal-development-and-productivity-tips-for-first-gen-bipocs-20584/374-writing-authentically-and-choosing-an-aligned-career-path-in-academia-with-dr-leslie-wang.md
Podcast: [Grad School Femtoring: Inclusive Grad School Stories, Personal Development, and Productivity Tips for  First-Gen BIPOCs](https://stenobird.com/podcast/grad-school-femtoring-inclusive-grad-school-stories-personal-development-and-productivity-tips-for-first-gen-bipocs-20584)
Published: 2026-05-29T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.gradschoolfemtoring.com
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/prfx.byspotify.com/e/genuina.simplecastaudio.com/aa1399a4-dc5e-4a57-840d-0cb1caf5259b/episodes/ec9aaf88-b230-4ca7-962a-62d6ac63911e/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=aa1399a4-dc5e-4a57-840d-0cb1caf5259b&awEpisodeId=ec9aaf88-b230-4ca7-962a-62d6ac63911e&feed=RhhQsM37
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Duration seconds: 3086

## Resource

In this episode of the The Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I talk with Dr. Leslie Wang about writing authentically, values misalignment in academia, and choosing a career path that feels aligned with your long-term wellbeing. This episode is for anyone who feels exhausted by the pressure to constantly perform, produce, and prove themselves while questioning whether their current path still reflects who they are and how they want to live. We explore how academia, like many professional spaces, can shape people into prioritizing external validation over internal alignment, and how signs like dread, resentment, perfectionism, burnout, and comparison often point toward deeper values misalignment. Dr. Wang shares how she transitioned from a tenured professor to a coach supporting scholars with writing, publishing, and career decisions rooted in values-alignment. We also discuss how graduate students can approach career exploration more intentionally, how to identify your internal compass, and how to write for real readers instead of only writing for gatekeepers.

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## Transcript

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