David Mendes
Helping PhDs Turn Expertise Into Opportunity - Inside and Beyond Academia
Male from Montréal, Canada and speaks English, French, Portuguese, SpanishAvailable for Collaboration, Interviews in In-Person, Remote Formats
My ideal audience includes current PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers who are questioning whether academia is still the right path for them.
It also includes PhDs who have already transitioned into industry, government, or entrepreneurship and are navigating what’s next. If your listeners are interested in meaningful work, career clarity, and leveraging advanced education in unconventional ways, we’ll be a great match.
I also resonate with audiences curious about identity shifts, purpose-driven careers, and the hidden emotional labor of big professional transitions.
Topics Discussed by David Mendes
About David Mendes
David Mendes is the host of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, a podcast that helps researchers rethink their career paths with assurance and creativity.
Originally from Lisbon, Portugal, David moved to Montreal in 2004 and became the first in his family to earn a PhD.
Drawing from his own journey of leaving academia, he now shares real stories from PhDs around the world navigating life after graduate school.
David's passions include Aikido, playing the clarinet, and learning new languages.
Availability for Interviews
Friday from 9am to 3pm America/Toronto
Interview & Promotion Format
- Guest Form
- Pre-Interview Call
- Share Episodes
- Email Subscribers
Target Audience
My ideal audience includes current PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers who are questioning whether academia is still the right path for them.
It also includes PhDs who have already transitioned into industry, government, or entrepreneurship and are navigating what’s next. If your listeners are interested in meaningful work, career clarity, and leveraging advanced education in unconventional ways, we’ll be a great match.
I also resonate with audiences curious about identity shifts, purpose-driven careers, and the hidden emotional labor of big professional transitions.
Why Invite David Mendes as a Guest?
I make a great guest because I bring honesty, humor, and hope to conversations about life after the PhD. As the first in my family to earn a doctorate, I know what it feels like to face uncertainty after grad school and how lonely it can feel to step off the academic track. Through hosting Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD and interviewing 200+ researchers worldwide, I’ve developed a talent for mixing empathy with laughter while breaking down big, intimidating transitions into stories people can relate to. Listeners often tell me I’ve helped them see their professional future in a new light and inspired them at moments when they felt lost or discouraged. My goal is always to leave audiences both entertained and empowered, with the clarity and courage to take their next step forward.