chapter 3: the colleague from hell

Burcu, Mirna, and Ardiana are back after a chaotic June full of conferences, moves, and last-minute grant deadlines! They kick things off catching up on summer life, meddling moms with career advice, and the eternal reference-manager debate (Zotero vs. Mendeley vs. EndNote).

Then it's time travel: this episode revisits one of the show's earliest recordings, a story so wild they couldn't leave it in the vault. Burcu recounts a real-life "colleague from hell" during her master's: a manipulative coworker who sabotaged experiments, gaslit her in the lab, and charmed his way into her supervisors' trust while tearing her down behind her back. It's a jaw-dropping tale of workplace manipulation, gut instincts, and standing your ground.

The trio close out with an honest reflection on power dynamics in academia, competitiveness vs. integrity, and why speaking up matters - even when no one believes you at first.

🎧 Tune in for chaos, catharsis, and a masterclass in reading red flags at work.