Shows / R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Professor David Maslach talks about graduate school, research, science, Innovation, and entrepreneurship. The R3ciprocity project is my way to give back as much as I possibly can. I seek to provide insights and tools to change how we understand science, and make it more democratic.
Episodes
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What Happens When Wealth Becomes Immortal?”
I’ve been thinking a lot about ultra-wealth—what it means when someone can earn more money in a year than most of us will see in a lifetime, and still have…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
How I Have Learned to Sit With Scientific Uncertainty
When I began my academic journey, I assumed science was about accumulating facts that would eventually point to some clear understanding of how the world…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
How to Build Software When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing (Most Days, You Won’t)
I’ve been building a platform for years. And here’s the truth I wish someone had told me: You won’t know what you’re doing—most of the time. Building anything…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Unconditional Love Belongs in the Workplace
(And no, I’m not talking about romance.) One of the most underrated forces in our working lives is love. Not romantic love—but the kind of love that feels more…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why the boring, ordinary investment wins—and entrepreneurship often fails
The fastest way to wealth almost always feels the slowest and the most painful. Everything that truly moves the needle—high-return assets like index and mutual…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What if Science Isn’t About Truth After All?
What if Science Isn’t About Truth After All? When I started out, I believed research was about uncovering some objective reality. Something we’re all moving…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Myth of Motivation: Why Most People Don’t Care About Big Change
After years in academia, I’ve realized something few people admit: most people don’t actually want to change the world. They just want to live their lives…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
PhD-Level Science Isn’t About Efficiency Hacks — It’s About Kindergarten-Level Guidance
You’ve been fed lies about productivity. “Do more, faster, smarter.” But in real research careers, that ratchet-up mindset breaks labs and burns people out…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Can a Non-Top-Tier PhD Still Land a Top-Tier Career?
Can a non‑top‑tier doctorate program get you into a job or career within the academic or research world that is top tier? I used to think that if you did…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why “Just Being Normal” Might Be the Most Radical Strategy Online
Everyone says the algorithm is broken. That it penalizes you. That it keeps you invisible. But after 6,000+ YouTube videos, I’ve realized something: The…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
That LinkedIn Title Isn’t Fooling Anyone. Especially Not Academics
I was just having this conversation with my son—about how human nature drives so much of what we see online. You go on LinkedIn, and it’s like everyone has to…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Ignore Their Success Stories. The Truth Is Much Slower—and More Painful.
Don’t buy into the highlight reels. The truth behind progress—real, lasting, meaningful progress—is much slower and far more painful than anyone admits. Most…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
People Laughed. I Built the Platform Anyway.
I had no investors. No team. No roadmap. Just one strange, stubborn belief: that I could build something that changed the way research is done. Everyone said…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Internet Trains Us to Avoid the Truth
The internet is designed to keep you scrolling. Not thinking. Not learning. Most people check out the second a conversation gets difficult. Not “heated.” Just…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Robots Won’t Steal Your Job—They’ll Raise Your Kids (And Be Better at It)
We keep hearing AI will ruin everything—but no one talks about how much of our life already changed without us noticing. From daily showers to spotless homes…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why the Most Successful People Avoid What Actually Works
Everyone says they want innovation—until you actually try to fail on purpose. But living in the land of failure is the only way anything truly new happens. You…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Pursue Failure
Try things that lead to failure. You never know what it will bring.
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why Retired Engineers Are Starting the Coolest Companies
You were an R&D exec, an engineer, a builder of real things. And now? You’re told to watch Wheel of Fortune and sit still. That’s nonsense. You’ve still got…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I Wanted to Be A Groundbreaking Scientist. My Dad Just Gave Away Carrots.
I used to think I needed to build something massive to matter. Publish groundbreaking research. Get recognized. Maybe even win awards. But when I look back…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Education Didn’t Teach Me the Hardest Lesson: How to Keep Going When Life Stops Being Exciting
I believed education would unlock everything—happiness, clarity, purpose. And in some ways, it did. But the hardest part of life wasn’t solved in any…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Invisible Things That Actually Make You Rich
Most of us think money problems are solved with budgets, rules, and discipline. But the truth is, you don’t need a budget—you need a reframing. We live in a…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Most Big Ideas Don’t Start with Genius. They Start with Doubt and Silence.
Brilliant ideas don’t start brilliant. They start lonely. Ugly. Scary. The first time you share something that matters, it will be misunderstood. It will feel…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why I Talk About the Politics of PhD Research Life
I talk about the politics of PhD life because gossip—yes, gossip—has a purpose. We think of gossip as petty, but in research life, it’s often how we make sense…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Trusting Your Gut: Why Intuition Deserves More Respect in Science and Innovation
As researchers, we are trained to demand evidence before believing something. We pride ourselves on the phrase, “Show me the data.” And yet, I’m struck by how…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Embarrassed. I’m Terrified. But I Do It Anyway.
I know I’m weird. I record podcasts while driving. I talk to strangers on the internet. I’ve poured time, money, and reputation into something that might go…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Having Kids Makes No Economic Sense—So I Did It Anyway
If you’re looking for a rational, financial reason to have kids, you won’t find one here. I’ve looked. I teach strategy and economics. I live in a world…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
You’re Wasting Your PhD by Playing It Safe
Everyone tells you to be bold—but when you’re actually in the middle of a PhD, or building something real, all you feel is pressure. Pressure to finish…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Told I’m a Failure—But I Wouldn’t Change a Thing
Everyone around me says I’ve made it—tenure, a house, a good life. But inside the system I work in, I’m told—explicitly and implicitly—that I don’t count. That…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why I Still Feel Guilty Enjoying Life as a PhD — Even Now
Why do we feel guilty when we finally enjoy our lives — as PhDs, professors, or researchers? There’s this unspoken rule in academia: if you take weekends off…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Smart People Thinking About This Risk For AI
Artificial intelligence is the most powerful innovation we’ve seen in a generation—maybe ever. I know many people still don’t see the impact it will have. But…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
PhD Research Isn’t About Knowledge. It’s About Survival.
At some point in your PhD or academic career, the pursuit of knowledge turns into a grind for survival — passing comps, getting published, getting grants…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Perfect Academic Doesn’t Exist — So Stop Trying to Be One
There’s no perfect template for success — not in academia, not in life. Even people who look like you, think like you, or grew up with you will want different…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
9 Years of Work—and the Algorithm Still Doesn’t Know I Exist
I’ve spent the last nine years building something that matters—at least, it matters to me. It’s called the Reciprocity Project. It’s a platform I started to…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
1-Minute Advice That Saved My Career: Persistence and Forgiveness
If you’re doing anything that really matters in your life, there are two things you have to hold onto. First: Persistence. Just. Keep. Going. I know that…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Not Rich. I’m Not Connected. But I’m Still Building a Research Revolution.
I was talking with my son about life, work, and why I insist on building this “weird” thing in public. R3ciprocity isn’t just an app; it’s my way of showing…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
They Think I’m a Loser. But I’m Quietly Changing the Research World.
I know I’m a world-class researcher. I know I’m doing careful, meaningful work—stuff that will matter in 30 years. I also know that I’m building something with…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Academic Prestige Is Real—But It’s Not Everything
Let’s be honest: where you went to school still shapes your academic career. If your degree says “top 10,” doors magically open. If it doesn’t? You hustle…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The World Isn’t Lacking Talent — It’s Full of Fear
If someone told you you’re not good enough, it’s probably because they’re just afraid. Most people who try to shut you down are projecting their own pain. You…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Is It Normal to Feel Sad After Doing Research? (I Think So)
This podcast is a bit of a diary. I treat myself like a Petri dish. And I just have to say it—after I sit and read and think and work through research, I…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Should I Quit Academia? I Ask Myself Every Day
Some professors say they love this job. They say it’s rewarding. That it’s exciting. And maybe it is for them. But I’m going to be honest with you: Every…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Things Are Always More Complicated Than You Think
Every region, every country, every decision — it’s always a complicated mess. Even when you think you’re doing the right thing, time and context reveal…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why Can’t I See the Contribution Everyone Else Sees?
You’ve worked for months—sometimes years—on an idea. Then someone says: “You just have to do this.” And suddenly, it feels like everything you built is…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What If Your Dream Was Just a Marketing Campaign?
What if the dream you’ve been chasing your whole life—was never really your dream? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. About how much of what I’ve…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why High Achievers Still Feel Unseen — and What to Do About It
I used to believe that if I just perfected myself, people would love me. That if I worked hard enough — became successful enough — I’d finally earn their…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Being Honest Made Me a Pariah in Academia: On Isolation and the Hidden Cost of Academic Life
What if I’m honest and everyone finds out I’m a fraud? This quiet fear shaped the beginning of my career in academia—and still lingers. It’s a feeling that…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Doing a PhD Has Nothing to Do With Better Knowledge
Doing a PhD has nothing to do with coming up with better knowledge. I know that sounds wild. But I strongly believe this — and in this episode, I’m going to…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Terrified I’m Screwing Everything Up — Every Single Day
I get these waves. Waves of fear. Of doubt. At least once or twice a day. Why am I doing this? Why am I so public about something I don’t even understand…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Don’t Ban ChatGPT. Teach People to Handle Complexity.
I have seen a lot of people—especially in academia—try to ban ChatGPT outright. But the world doesn’t work like that. Banning tools like this doesn’t teach…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What If No One Reads What You Built?
So what if you work on something for two, three, five years… You write the dissertation. You build the app. You post the idea. And no one looks. Your advisor…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Why You Need Both Arrogance and Humility to Succeed
This is just a one-minute thought—but it might change how you see yourself. We’re told to be humble. But the truth is, no one gets far without a little…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Academia Doesn’t Leave Room for Being Human
I have a PhD. I’m a professor. And still—some days, I can’t keep up. There are emails I haven’t answered. People I haven’t followed up with. Promises I meant…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What If You Picked the Wrong Career—and Can’t Fix It?
What If You Picked the Wrong Career—And Can’t Fix It? I think about this almost every day. I am sure you do, my friend. What if I picked the wrong career? What…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Still Not Over My PhD — 15 Years Later
I’m Still Not Over My PhD — 15 Years Later It’s been almost 15 years since I ended my PhD. I graduated in 2011. And if I’m being honest, I’m still not over it…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
The Rise of the Normal Nerd: Why ‘Solid 7s’ Will Win the New Information War
We’re living through the biggest information shift in 100 years—and no one’s prepared. Institutions are stuck. Algorithms reward chaos. But there’s hope in…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What If You Peaked in High School?
There are days I feel like I’ve done nothing important since high school. Like the best is behind me—and I’m just slowly fading. And I know I’m not the only…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
I’m Ashamed of How Much I Want Recognition In Academia
In academia, recognition isn’t just a nice bonus. It is the reward system. If people don’t notice your work, you don’t get the job, the promotion, the funding…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
If You Say You ‘Outwork Everyone,’ I Know I Can’t Trust You
In academia, one of the biggest red flags I’ve learned to recognize is when someone proudly says they “outwork everyone.” It sounds admirable—until you realize…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
What Business Schools Don’t Teach: Empathy Changes Everything
You’re not going to like this—but I’ve come to believe it’s true: We’re not teaching people empathy. Not in business school. Not in PhD programs. Not in most…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
You Can Only Climb If They Let You—So Learn to Love the Ground Beneath You
At some point, you realize the climb they promised was never real. Maybe there isn’t a ladder. Maybe there’s no pinnacle. You start to feel a shift—where you…
- R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness
Nobody Knows How Hard It Really Is — Just Get Going
People will tell you it should be easier. They’ll say you’re doing it wrong. But until they actually stand up and do it themselves, they haven’t got a clue…