The PhD Journey Unplugged

Dr. Sarah Gordon is the founder and host of The PhD Journey Unplugged, a platform dedicated to exploring the intersection of health, human performance, and the lived experience of pursuing excellence. Through reflective, evidence-informed conversations, her work focuses on sustainable performance, personal growth, and caring for the whole person along the journey toward success. The podcast brings together researchers, clinicians, athletes, coaches, and leaders to share perspectives that bridge science, experience, and meaningful human development.

The PhD Journey Unplugged is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Sarah L. Gordon, with 80 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dr. Sarah L. Gordon hosts The PhD Journey Unplugged, a health show with 80 episodes published.

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  The PhD Journey Unplugged

  RESILIENCE ISN'T GRIT ALONE, IT'S RECOVERY TOO! (EPISODE 80)

  Aug 16, 202657 min

  Episode 80: Resilience Isn’t Grit Alone, It’s Recovery Too! | A Conversation with Arwen Elaine What if resilience isn’t simply about how much we can endure—but also how well we recover? In milestone Episode 80 of The PhD Journey Unplugged, Dr. Sarah Gordon welcomes back friend and returning guest Arwen Elaine, Founder of AE Fitness & Performance Coaching, for a thoughtful conversation about resilience, recovery, burnout, sustainable human performance, and human flourishing. We live in a culture that often celebrates the grind: work harder, push through, keep going, accomplish more. And grit matters. Difficult experiences can stretch us beyond our comfort zones, reveal strengths we didn’t know we had, and teach us that we are capable of doing hard things. But there is another side of resilience that deserves just as much attention:Recovery. Sarah and Arwen explore why resilience is both a process and an outcome—and why the journey isn’t over when we reach the summit, cross the finish line, complete the degree, navigate the crisis, or accomplish the goal. We still have to come down the mountain. Recovery is where we restore physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is where sleep, movement, nourishment, stress management, self-compassion, play, connection, and time become essential—not as signs of weakness, but as part of sustainable performance. The conversation also explores the warning signs of burnout, particularly among high-achieving individuals who may instinctively respond to exhaustion by pushing even harder. One of the most important ideas to emerge from the conversation is simple:Recovery is a skill set.Just as we can train ourselves to persevere, we can learn to recognize when it is time to rest, restore, adapt, and give ourselves the grace necessary to recover. And perhaps resilience isn't something we always recognize while we're living through the difficult experience. Sometimes we discover it retrospectively, when we look back and realize: I made it through that. Maybe I can do this, too.This episode continues Sarah and Arwen’s collaborative series exploring identity, resilience, sustainable ambition, and what it means to flourish throughout our lives.Because sustainable human performance isn't about endlessly pushing harder.It is about knowing when to push—and knowing when to recover.Strength for the journey comes from within.The PhD Journey UnpluggedHosted by Dr. Sarah GordonAll information shared on The PhD Journey Unplugged podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be deemed as professional advice.

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  The PhD Journey Unplugged

  Episode 79: Rebuilding with Passion & Purpose: A Conversation with Photographer Scott Proposki

  Aug 12, 202653 min

  Episode 79: Rebuilding with Passion and Purpose — A Conversation with Renowned Photographer Scott Proposki What happens when the life and career you spent decades building suddenly disappear? In Episode 79 of The PhD Journey Unplugged, Dr. Sarah Gordon sits down with renowned photographer, entrepreneur, author, and business consultant Scott Proposki for a conversation about photography, resilience, identity, reinvention, and finding a path forward when life takes an unexpected turn. For nearly three decades, Scott built an extraordinary career in photography, with experiences ranging from National Geographic to White House events and major organizations and personalities. But when the pandemic arrived in 2020, the event photography business he had spent decades building changed almost overnight. What followed was not simply a business challenge. It became an identity shift. Scott shares candidly about the years it took to accept that returning to his old life was no longer the goal. Instead, he had to begin moving forward — rediscovering his strengths, reimagining his work, and ultimately using decades of experience to help other photographers, entrepreneurs, and business owners build sustainable futures of their own. Throughout the conversation, Sarah and Scott explore the psychology behind resilience and human flourishing, including the importance of autonomy, competence, relatedness, purpose, movement, and learning to break overwhelming challenges into manageable steps. One of Scott’s most powerful lessons is remarkably simple: “One small change every day.”Sometimes rebuilding a life doesn’t begin with a dramatic transformation. It begins with the next step. The next decision. The next small movement forward.This conversation explores:• Reinventing yourself after unexpected loss• Identity shifts in midlife and beyond• Why “Plan B” can sometimes become the new Plan A• Breaking overwhelming goals into smaller steps• The power of incremental 1% improvement• Photography, creativity, entrepreneurship, and AI• Moving from achievement toward meaning and purpose• Scott’s idea of taking your “Second Shot” in life• Self-Determination Theory and human flourishing• Why movement and physical capability matter for enjoying life as we ageAnd when Scott answers the question, “What are we training for?”, his answer brings the entire conversation back to something beautifully simple:We are training to keep moving, traveling, experiencing — and enjoying our lives.Whether you are rebuilding a career, navigating a transition, questioning an old identity, or simply wondering what comes next, this episode is a reminder that your journey need not end when the original plan changes.Sometimes things don't end. They transform.Thank you, Scott, for sharing your story, your vulnerability, your wisdom, and your passion for helping others take their own second shot.To Learn About Scott, please visit: https://scottproposki.com/The PhD Journey UnpluggedHosted by Dr. Sarah GordonFounder, The PhD Journey Unplugged, LLCAll information on The PhD Journey Unplugged podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be deemed as professional advice.

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  The PhD Journey Unplugged

  Episode 78: Backwards Is a Pace: Making History with Open Water Swimmer, Adina O’Neill

  Aug 9, 20261h 14m

  Episode 78 | Backwards Is a Pace: Making History with Adina O’Neill On July 20, 2026, Adina O’Neill did something no one had ever done before: she completed an eight-mile swim across Boston Harbor entirely on her back. In Episode 78 of The PhD Journey Unplugged, Adina returns to the podcast after our pre-swim conversation in Episode 71, Forward Is a Pace, to share what happened when months of preparation, uncertainty, resilience, and belief culminated in a historic day on the water. But this conversation is about much more than an eight-mile swim. Adina takes us behind the accomplishment—to the difficult training days, moments of self-doubt, unpredictable open-water conditions, mental preparation, and the extraordinary team of people who helped make the swim possible. We talk about what endurance teaches us when things do not go according to plan and why the struggles we experience during preparation may be exactly what builds the resilience we need when it matters most. Adina also shares a powerful message about achievement: we get to decide what matters to us. We don't have to measure our accomplishments against someone else's pace, body, age, ability, résumé, or definition of success. Sometimes the most meaningful goal is simply the one that calls to us—and having the courage to pursue it can open possibilities not only for ourselves, but for others. That message is at the heart of Adina's organization, Team B*REAL: Realistic. Empowered. Attainable. Lifestyle. Her historic swim also became an opportunity to give back. Through her efforts, Adina raised approximately $5,300 to support adult learn-to-swim scholarships—extending her love of swimming beyond her own achievements and helping others discover what may be possible for them in the water. Adina reminds us that extraordinary accomplishments do not always begin with believing we are extraordinary. Sometimes they begin with choosing a challenge that matters to us, preparing for it one day at a time, surrounding ourselves with people who believe in us, and continuing forward—even when forward happens to mean swimming backwards. On July 20, 2026, Adina O’Neill made history. And perhaps the greater message of her journey is this: Be proud. Be real. And keep moving—forward or backwards. It was an honor to share this journey with Adina - both in Episode 71 and here, in Episode 78. This will go down as one of the most memorable stories shared on The PhD Journey Unplugged Podcast. Thank you, Adina O'Neill, for bringing your historical moment to our audience and community. In Gratitude,Dr. Sarah GordonThe PhD Journey UnpluggedHosted by Dr. Sarah GordonFounder, The PhD Journey Unplugged, LLC Pictures and swimming footage belong to Adina O'Neill and were shared with her permission. All information on The PhD Journey Unplugged Podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be deemed professional advice.

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  The PhD Journey Unplugged

  Episode 77: Hope and Passion are Stronger than Diagnosis: A Conversation with Nicholas Kelly, MS, RD

  Aug 4, 202648 min

  Episode 77: Hope and Passion are Stronger than Diagnosis | A Conversation with Nicholas Kelly, MS, RD What happens when a diagnosis becomes the beginning of a mission instead of the end of a dream? In Episode 77 of The PhD Journey Unplugged, I sit down with Nicholas Kelly, MS, RD—Registered Dietitian, TEDx Speaker, patient and clinician advocate, and cystic fibrosis fighter—for an inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and choosing hope in the face of adversity. Nicholas shares how living with cystic fibrosis has shaped not only his personal journey but also his professional calling to improve the lives of others through nutrition, advocacy, and compassionate healthcare. Together, we explore what it means to move beyond limitations, find purpose through life's challenges, and build a life defined not by diagnosis, but by passion, service, and possibility. This conversation is for anyone navigating adversity, supporting a loved one through illness, working in healthcare, or seeking encouragement to continue moving forward with courage and hope. Because our greatest strength is often revealed not in the challenges we face—but in the purpose we discover through them. In this episode, you'll discover: How Nicholas transformed personal adversity into professional purpose. The role of nutrition in living well with chronic illness. The importance of patient advocacy and compassionate healthcare. Why hope and passion can be stronger than any diagnosis.Practical lessons in resilience, perseverance, and human flourishing. If this conversation encouraged you, please consider subscribing and joining us as we continue exploring the journeys that help us flourish. Strength for the journey within. All information shared on The PhD Journey Unplugged Podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be deemed professional advice.

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  The PhD Journey Unplugged

  Episode 76: "LIMITLESS: TRAINING FOR THE PERSON YOU'RE BECOMING" GUEST: KERI MANDELL

  Jul 25, 202657 min

  Limitless: Training for the Person You're Becoming | Episode 76 with Keri Mandell, "The Iron Yogi" What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want...is the story you've been telling yourself? In Episode 76 of The PhD Journey Unplugged, Dr. Sarah Gordon welcomes endurance athlete, coach, author, and motivational speaker Keri Mandell, known to many as "The Iron Yogi." Keri has dedicated her life to discovering what is possible when we move beyond perceived limitations. From running extraordinary endurance events in some of the world's most challenging environments to helping others transform their own lives through movement, mindfulness, and purpose, her journey reminds us that our greatest barriers are often the ones we place on ourselves. In this inspiring conversation, Keri shares the lessons that shaped her life, what she learned while literally running around the world in seven days, and why true growth begins long before we ever cross a finish line. Together, Sarah and Keri explore what it means to train—not simply for an event—but for the person we are becoming.Whether you're an endurance athlete, entrepreneur, leader, student, or simply someone striving to become the best version of yourself, this episode will challenge you to rethink your own potential. In this episode, they discuss:• Developing a limitless mindset • Training for personal growth, not just performance • Resilience through adversity • The relationship between physical endurance and mental strength • Yoga, mindfulness, and self-discovery • Breaking through self-imposed limitations • Finding purpose through challenge • Lessons from elite endurance racing • Building confidence one decision at a time • Living intentionally Featured Guest Keri Mandell Endurance Athlete"The Iron Yogi" Author of Limitless: What I Learned Running the World in Seven Days (Release Date: October 1st, 2026) - Sign up here for pre-release: https://www.empowertrainingandretreats.com/limitlessVisit Keri:https://www.empowertrainingandretreats.com Subscribe to The PhD Journey UnpluggedIf you enjoy conversations exploring resilience, leadership, health, motivation, successful aging, endurance sports, and living a life of purpose, be sure to subscribe and join our growing community.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePhDJourneyUnplugged Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (and additional free RSS feeds).Connect with Dr. Sarah GordonFounder & HostThe PhD Journey UnpluggedWhere education meets inspiration through authentic conversations that empower people to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and purposefully.All information on The PhD Journey Unplugged is for general informational purposes only and should not be deemed professional advice.

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