1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Dr. Kate Massey-Chase is an academic, facilitator, activist, performer and writer. She’s a Lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University, where she’s leading a new MA in Arts, Health and Wellbeing. As a creative arts practitioner, she has worked across a range of educational and community settings, including delivering theatre-based and creative writing projects with young migrants, recovering addicts, prisoners and mental health service users. In this episode Kate shares her remarkable journey through the challenges of navigating a PhD while trying to start a family. &amp;nbsp; CONTENT WARNING - This episode touches on issues including miscarriage and failed IVF cycles. Kate discusses how ‘firsts’ on the PhD and fertility journey happened simultaneously.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; She reflects on the struggles of managing the &quot;messy middle&quot; of the PhD journey while dealing with personal loss and fertility treatments but also shares how the PhD served as a creative outlet. &amp;nbsp; Kate emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts and being adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges and the significance of rest and self-care. &amp;nbsp; The episode finishes with a top tip to help people keep moving forward. &amp;nbsp; You can contact Kate here: email : kmassey-chase@marjon.ac.uk&amp;nbsp; Socials: @KateMasseyChase&amp;nbsp; This is the MA that Kate mentions in the episode:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; https://www.marjon.ac.uk/courses/arts-health-wellbeing-masters/&amp;nbsp; For more information about IVF: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/ &amp;nbsp; For support for the fertility journey:&amp;nbsp; https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/ &amp;nbsp; Instagram also has a fabulous fertility community #fertilityjourney #IVF #TTC For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft The PhD Life Raft Podcast https://thephdliferaft.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28445753/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/28445753