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Juliet Rowe and Theresa Gaughan are co-hosts of Mind: The Gap – a podcast that was created in Dr. Shaun Boe’s Lab for Brain Recovery and Function. Rowe, a Rehabilitation Research student, and Gaughan, a PhD in Health candidate, use the podcast to educate, inspire and to learn about themselves as researchers.

Rowe came to Dr. Boe’s lab looking to research the neurological side of physiotherapy – specifically stroke rehabilitation. She knew she wanted to do a podcast as her version of journaling, and initially planned to interview people in the lab. She started it with another researcher, but when they left, she asked Gaughan to join her as co-host.

Gaughan had completed the MSc Rehabilitation Research program and is now a PhD in Health candidate working in Dr. Boe’s lab, researching how we learn through motor imagery.

“Once Juliet and I sat down and thought about what we wanted to do with the podcast, we realized it was all about the people behind the science and outside of the lab, even beyond the university.”

Mind the gap

If you’re thinking of the London tube signs when you hear the name, there’s a good reason. Rowe was in London and was thinking of names for the podcast.

“There were so many ‘mind the gap’ signs. We are looking at the minds behind the research, and the gaps of research that people don’t know about, so it just clicked.”

Making the podcast

The co-hosts say the interviews themselves don’t take very long, but it involves a lot of planning. They are always scouting for guests who are doing interesting research.

Rowe says if you have an article written about you, they have probably looked you up as a potential guest (so check your email!).

Once guests are booked, the duo plans what question they will ask, including some icebreakers. The actual recording takes an hour, and then Juliet edits it. The podcast episode is released a month after they record it.

Gaughan says they have a structure of what they want to talk about, but they want the conversation to be relaxed. One of their favourite questions to ask is ‘what is one thing you want people to take away from your research.’

Rowe says it’s not meant to be strictly educational – but also inspirational to people who want to understand the path towards becoming a researcher.

“Everyone has a different journey to get where they are, and there’s no right or wrong. We keep finding these people doing incredible work and getting their work out to people in such different ways. One of the benefits of this podcast is selfish – it’s almost like Theresa and I are learning the most.”

Feedback

Rowe says the feedback to the podcast has been positive, and that their audience is mostly friends and family of guests on the show, and academics who have used their own episode to share with perspective students.

Gaughan’s mom works as a public health nurse in Ontario and had someone recommend they listen to a podcast (theirs!) to understand the tone they were going for when making an infomercial.

They record through CKDU and don’t get data behind who is listening, so unfortunately don’t have exact audience details, but Rowe says she views it as a positive.

“At the end of the day, it is a passion project, not something that is skewed by metrics.”

Learning from fellow researchers

The podcasters say all the guests have been very transparent about the challenges and failures they have experienced in their careers, and how inspirational it is to them as student researchers.

Gaughan says something that a fellow Dal Health researcher, Dr. Caitlin McArthur, said on their podcast really stuck with her about how competitive academia is.

“She said ‘Make sure you surround yourself with other people and colleagues who aren’t afraid to bring up your name in a room full of opportunities. It’s an environment that fosters support.’”

Rowe says there is so much to gain by talking to accomplished researchers about their journey.

“It is something so truly inspiring to meet passionate academics who make an impact in the world.”

Listen to episodes of Mind: The Gap on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.