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I'm adjunct faculty and it's exhausting and demoralizing. The worst part of the whole thing is I'm good at teaching. I've won awards for my teaching. Students tell me years after we've been in class together that I inspired them. And the university doesn't care. Because teaching isn't valued by the administration. Students will be pay the same amount of tuition regardless. I don't bring in grants. And that's what matters. It's exhausting. I can't pay my rent in teaching awards and kind words.

I was in a PhD program for mathematics, and the first day I was there the Dean of the department told us how incredibly difficult it will be to get a job as a professor when we are done. He said they get literally hundreds of applications whenever they have an opening for 1 tenure track position in the math department, and priority will go to someone with a robust record of publications. I saw a lot of older class mates who were finishing their programs struggle to find work in academia, other than adjunct roles or roles outside of academia. I got the masters degree and left for an industry job. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I got a PhD in Philosophy of Religion from King's College London. It was (and is) a top program. I had multiple peer reviewed publications, even serving as an assistant editor for a Routledge philosophy handbook. I had a strong beat on a JRF (like a superstar postdoc) lined up at Oxford and was on track to finish my degree on time. Then... a family member got sick. I had to pause my PhD (put in an interruption of studies) in order to take care of and be with this family member through the end of their life (about a year and a half). I came back and finished the PhD, but that was it. I was now damaged goods. I was out of the academia loop. I adjuncted at a community college for a few years, and picked up part time teaching at some graduate schools as well. I was rated very highly as a teacher, but eventually, I just wasn't making enough money to support a family. I left, moving into another area of public service, where I have been incredibly happy. I grieved the loss of my academic life. I also felt like a failure. As I looked back on my choices, I do not regret a single one. I did everything right, but because of life I was kicked aside. I hate that this is how academia is (I was a *good* teacher and *great* researcher), but I don't regret my choices at all.

Long form philosophy videos by someone with a philosophy degree would be great

Jared you have 221k and counting subscribers and almost 10m views on your videos. That's 10 million times that people wanted to hear what you had to say, and 221k people that want to make sure they don't miss out your opinion and presentation of interesting material. That's a tremendous succuss by any measure, never consider yourself a failure. There are probably tenured professors all over this country, including the most prestigious schools, that wish they had the reach you have. Looking forward to more of your videos and would love to see some long form philosophy videos.

"Grieve for the life they weren't going to live." Perfectly encapsulates my college experience

I got my undergraduate degree in Philosophy and I'm now the head of cyber security architecture for one of the top 15 financial institutions in North America. I am 100% positive that my degree directly contributed to my entry into Cyber Security in addition to the successes I've had throughout my career. While it may not be obvious, what I learned in pursuit of degree (topics like logic, argumentation, and ethical reasoning) have served me extremely well over the decades. I would certainly be an advocate for the notion that a degree in philosophy can be rewarding outside the world of academia.

I want to see a video on the scam and racket of academic journals. Super interesting. This is one of my favorite channels right now and I’d love to see more long form philosophy content

Thank you for this video, Jared. Witnessing the corporatization of higher education in the United States -- along with the drastic increase in administrative positions and administrative pay -- has saddened me as an educator. I have heard administrators refer to students as customers, and I have heard students say things like, "I paid for this course, so why can't I have an A?" To me, the decline of higher education has much to do with the fact that profit has replaced learning as the primary reason for its existence. Prioritizing profit is the reason we have a horrifically exploitative system where adjuncts are barely surviving in the hope that they might be one of the lucky few to get a full-time position. Twenty years ago, I would have advised students interested in a career in higher education to go for it. Today, I would not.

My undergrad was in Latin and Ancient Greek language and literature, and I was admitted to a highly ranked PhD program to work with a specific scholar on Roman comedy, but at the last minute I decided not to go, for many of the same reasons you describe here. Classics departments are being shuttered left and right (or merged with philosophy or religion departments!), and I would have been signing up for a life of instability (with little control over where I would live) and relative financial precarity. I also dreaded the idea of ruining my love of Latin literature by entering into a dysfunctional relationship with academia. That was about 15 years ago, and it has proven to be the right decision for me. Unfortunately, several of my old colleagues are now out of work, and many of them are burned out or disillusioned. I still read and translate Latin, but I do it out of fascination and passion, not because I'm desperately racing to stay relevant or pump up my publication list. My career thus far has been varied (and weird!) and interesting, and I have had amazing experiences I never would have had in academia. I have a feeling that you too will look back in 10 or 15 years and be glad you made the choice you did. Among other things, you're bringing philosophy to more people as a youtuber than you ever could as a professor at a university.

My father, with a doctorate in civil engineering from a prestigious university and a post-doc in marketing (!) went into the private sector in the late 90s. He published far more, at an astounding rate, after he left academia. His prestige became such that he was able to pick his own academic job a few years later. I'm a huge fan of alternative/parallel academies. Glad I found your channel.

This was the case ten years ago too. I loved university, but even in undergrad I was seeing the writing on the wall with how my younger professors were being treated and never really considered going for a PhD. It isn’t the job it used to be sixty years ago.

fascinating story for me who knows nothing about academia. I run a plant nursery and read books. Best wishes on continuing to do what you love.

Great video, Jared. I left philosophy in 1997 for much the same reasons you left, though I had the additional consideration that my dissertation was going nowhere. And twenty-seven years down the road, I still miss the things you miss: the seminars, the symposia, and just the community of people engaged with ideas.

Hey man im 32, studied chemical engineering at a big 10 state school. Got a chance to take an ancient greek philosophy class and it changed my life. I love love LOVE Plato and would love to see more videos about some of your favorite dialogues. Keep up the good work.

I bailed 30 years ago when some of the trends you discuss were already underway. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Nice to hear the issues explored by someone vastly more articulate than I am. Cheers!

i think one of the factors contributing to this is that now that getting a degree has become the “default” path for most people, it has turned most universities into “degree factories” instead of places that really value education everything has to be vocational, it all has to contribute to your ability to get a job or else it’s considered a naive endeavour. they are hyper focused on “hard skills” because that’s what you can put on a resume. i’m a political science major and my resume is mostly “i know how to work with quantitative data and do long form technical writing” - despite me thinking by far the most valuable skill i learned being understanding institutional logic and the workings of major projects. those, however, are nebulous and may not have immediately apparent use value. it creates this death spiral where students are there cause they think they need it to live, profs are only there to chattel students through the program, and administrators boom because those are the people that make the higher ups feel important.

I backed out of academia when I was working on my Ph.D. dissertation in philosophy, and, yes, I definitely went through that grieving period, and still go through it at times, about the life I wouldn't be able to live. However, I backed out because I met my wife and started having a family, and I just couldn't dedicate the time needed to do the research and hold down a full-time job to support my family, so I do not consider that a bad thing. I got into philosophy in undergrad (I changed from a business major) because I loved it and I loved seeking the truth; philosophy changed my life and my world view. Even outside of institutionalized sophism, I am still able to read, discuss, and seek out the truth, as my humanity was not revoked with my enrollment in my program. Even if my day-to-day job is not at a college every day I continue to live a life of a philosopher and seek to understand myself in/and the world. Whether I have a Ph.D. or not, the joy I get from having meaningful conversations with others is not lessened or magnified by it, only my opportunities to be put in those situations to have those conversations.

My advice: post the type of content you’re genuinely interested in. I most appreciate how candid you are in these videos because it’s stuff you honestly care about. The philosophy of language sounds like a great place to start. I wouldn’t overthink your “vision” for the channel or else it will turn into a schtick that you probably won’t enjoy doing anymore.

You spoke things I have felt and thought so much. I did my PhD in English Literature and grieved when it became apparent that an academic career would never materialise. I also miss conferences and research, and just having conversations with fellow researchers. I have just decided to start my own KZfaq channel, which I how I found yours. Thank you for voicing what I have experienced. It’s the first time I have heard anyone else’s experience. Keep up the great work, love your channel!

I think a potential area for videos to explore is how philosophy connects with contemporary discourse, current events, etc. I think people often fail to see the connection. For example, how systems logic is related to computer science or AI, or how protestant theology informed modern liberal ethics, or the relationship between the current political discourse and its philosophical origins. I think people don't see the connections there because they're not often explained.

I took a very similar path man. I was particularly touched by the part where you talk about grieving for the life you're not going to live, and not having people around to talk to about the things that interest you intellectually. Great video, and thank you for sharing.

Thank you for this video, Jared, and for your other work as well. I hope you keep the channel going! I'm a PhD "affiliate" faculty, nearing the end of my teaching career. For me, not having to attend meetings was a bonus, helping to make up for a substantially lower salary than my tenured colleagues. It also helps that I've had a life outside of academia as well. But when a student asks me about whether they should do graduate work in philosophy, I always ask them, to begin, "Have you had a recent mental health examination?" 🙂

Interesting! I am doing a history phd in Sweden and I believe the situation isn't quite as dire here. All phd programs are fully funded so working conditions are much better overall. But my (honest) advice would be to only do a phd if it's the only thing you're good at that can give you an income, hehe.

Checks out. I spent several years as a postdoc adjunct. Love many things about the life, but have been happier since stepping off the track. English PhD, 18th/19th c, now a software dev. The underlying skill set isn’t so different. I miss teaching the most. Thanks for sharing your story!!

Thanks for the honest video! It really resonates with my personal experience of getting a PhD I wish you all the best!

Alot of wisdom in this video. Thank you for sharing.

Love these types of videos, its really interesting to hear an honest perspective with no bs. Glad you chose KZfaq!

I am almost an associate professor in Sweden (it will be in autumn), I can say that in Europe universities are in crisis too...but here in the nordics, despites highs and low the situation is not so bad. (Ok not perfect...but I cannot complain). About PhD...here in Europe we got paid. Here in Sweden I had 2500 euros (netto) per month. This allowed to me to have a "normal" life. Plus books and travels expenses.

i was literally journaling while watching the video because i saw your journaling videos 7-8 months ago. i honestly want more of that stuff

Wow, a great video that many people (students, faculty, and admin, politicians etc.) should all hear. So many great points made not just about academia but also student loans, the motive to work hard as an undergraduate, and hiring in general. But I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised since it’s coming from a philosopher. I found that my reasons were very similar when leaving the university (mathematics). But you can always do what you love even if it’s not your official job. I still research math and that’s the real reason we started academia in the first place: for the joy of it as a hobby.

Thank you for sharing Jared ❤

Jared, thank you for sharing this post. You experience echoes mine; I left academia after completing my doctorate in philosophy of religion in London around 25 years ago, for similar reasons to the ones you describe. I can attest to the grieving process; when asked whether I miss it, I tend to say, only every hour or so, which is only partly a joke. Looking through the comments it's clear there is no shortage of people who share this experience or something like it. What you are doing, and I hope will do more, is building an online community of people who can continue to explore philosophy outside the academy, which is very valuable. I've continued to study since leaving, though not to write; I am beginning to change that now, and to develop the scope of a research project, as I'm coming to think that the study of philosophy will be more rewarding for me when directed to an end - that is, when I have a particular research project in mind. (Though, that may or may not require actual writing.) I wonder whether the internet/social media is a platform for something going beyond simply a community of people with this shared interest - to enable them to *collaborate* actively in philosophy (or in any discipline) in a way analogous to the academic setting - rebuilding the academy outside the academy, as it were, with a slightly more open nature and set of conventions, without compromising academic and intellectual standards in so doing. Do you have any thoughts about that and how it might work?

Hey man, I appreciate the video, it was interesting to hear your reasoning. I work as a professional in public libraries, and the bit you mentioned about certain departments facing budget cuts, lay-offs, and only hiring part-time and contractual staff really hit home for me. Lots of parallels there, unfortunately. I’m glad that you found a way out of your situation. Thanks for the great content you put out, regardless of its frequency

Thanks for this video. We would all love long philosophy vids. Thanks for your insight into academia

I would enjoy longer philosophy videos. Your approach and chosen subject matter to each of your videos always keeps my engagement. It often takes me down a new rabbit hole of exploration as well. Congratulations on your new home with the family.

I stumbled across your channel searching for videos about books and ideas. And I'm a fan. I am in academia, and have gone through some of the challenges you described, and have had nearly identical conversations with my own students. Thanks so much for your candor and for your spot-on observations. I look forward to what comes next with your channel.

Thank you for sharing your story. I found your voice so calming, even if you were talking about triggering topics for me. I am a PhD candidate trying to finish my degree. I fell out of love for academia a while ago and feel like I have lost so much of my precious time in it... I got sick as a result. I have been actively working on side projects that will help me work elsewhere but in research at universities. I think keeping those options up is so important!

Thanks for introducing me to the writing of Ursula K. LeGuin. I might never have picked up her books if it wasn't for your recommendations. I appreciate your book reviews and journaling content.

yes, I would enjoy long form philosophy videos very much! Your channel is a great source of and joy and food for thought (and bills for books too :D )

Thank you Jared for sharing your journey. Looking forward to more of your content.

Thanks for being open and vulnerable. It's very refreshing to see. I'd love to hear, in the future, you discuss philosophy around education or learning.

Absolutely go more in depth on philosophy topics. The more philosophy available for free on the internet the better because like you said the racket keeps people away from knowledge.

Such a great and honest video.

Hey dude, tons of respect for the honesty you put in doing this video, you really seem a nice person, we dont get that fake feeling that we get from seeing other vlogers and influencers.

These are the same problems that we face here in the Eastern hemisphere. I am from India and let me assure you that getting into academia and staying there is close to impossible. Plus getting a P.hd will send you into an existential crisis

Enjoyed this chat!

So glad the algorithm recommended this video to me. Jared I too had an extremely similar story to yours (albeit in the UK). And I even made a channel for the same reasons. I don’t regret my decision either. I am so glad to hear that I am not alone! I will watch more of your videos and subscribe. Congratulations on the success of your channel!

Congrats on your baby and your channel is awesome.

You've pointed out the reasons I didn't return to school to get my masters/PhD. Great content. Looking forward to more videos!

Very well articulated and lots of "food for thought", but I wouldn't expect any less from you.

Very passionate and moving and practical. You have helped an immense number of people.

Absolutely valuable insights and wisdom

Your channel has been a gift. I became interested in philosophy at age 45, after 16 years of teaching community college English. I love my job, but I suddenly wanted to learn about the voices that inspired and shape many of the voices and ideas I appreciate. Your channel has been a great resource and encouragement as I began my self-study. Keep up the good work. Many of us are taking notes. And blessings to your family in your move.

Love your work! As a philosophy undergrad myself, I've always been fascinated by the historical aspect of philosophy. A series where you explore how different ideas influenced each other would be really cool!

Definitely here to engage with your thinking, brother! I am so interested in the theology of language and how it interacts with a philosophy of language. Absolutely love these topics. Blessings on you, brother. Thank you for your content!

I’m a grad student in psychology with a focus on language, specific to abnormalities arising whilst in psychosis-tangentially related. Just want to say: I appreciate your content and especially this video.

Could you possibly consider adding subtitles? That would be really helpful for non-native listeners like me.

thanks for sharing your story

Would love to see more videos of this kind where you just ramble on! It's different from your usual videos, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.

More long form philosophy please. We'll be here. Thank you for your videos

Hi Jared, nice video and I appreciate that you shared your background. I’m the type of person that is interested in the person and their background so for me it was enjoyable to hear. You are a soft spoken man which I believe is a huge benefit in your field. I’m a 63 year old widower studying philosophy and so I look forward to your book recommendations as well as your natural talent for teaching. Congrats on your new home and new family.

Thanks! I look forward to your new videos!

Thank you, Jared, a lot! It was not the video that I expected to see from you, but definitely the video I would love to see from you.

Thank you for giving an honest account of your experience, to help others who are about to take, or who are already on this path.

Your long form stoic videos has been some of my favorite content you've produced thus far! Long form philosophy essays have been of much more educational benefit than my current undergrad philosophy program because your work is superb!

Jared, this is a phenomenal video. I'm nearly done with my BA in history, and I also had dreams of working in the academy. I've slowly come to realize that I don't think I'm cut out for it, plus the chances of success in that field are so dismal. It's been a very bitter pill to swallow, and honestly kind of depressing. So i'm looking into other things I could do with this degree. Thank you for your advice and honesty.

What a great channel. So happy to have found it.

Well done, Jason, a very balanced, fair-minded and accurate overview of the situation facing aspiriing academics, particularly in the Humanities. I am an Emeritus with a daughter heading to grad school in English in the Fall. I am pleased of course but concerned about the state of the profession, which is as important to civil society as it ever was, perhaps more.

Dang, really relating to your journey. I'm currently transitioning out of a career path I though I'd do for the rest of my life. I truly think this new path I'm on will be better for me, but I also have this voice in the back of my head saying it was a decision based in fear. As for video ideas for the channel, I'm currently watching and enjoying John Vervaeke's 'Awakening From the Meaning Crisis' and I would love getting content like that but with your unique perspective and voice

Finishing up my first year as a tenure track professor at a junior college. Honestly love it, introduction classes are fun if you make them fun, I think more PhDs should take this sector seriously. (Not for nothing, but the pay is also not bad at all - even better than some liberal arts). PS my college is two hours from Austin, if you ever wanted to be a guest speaker!

Thank you for sharing. I'm a physicist and I can relate very well to some parts of your jouney. I am still in academia, but it has been a constant struggle. I wish you and those on your side the best.

I thoroughly enjoyed your video😃👏🏾

Jared. I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I had to leave academia for similar reasons. This video helped me a lot. Thank you.

You may say this video is rambly, but it is such an honest, candid, analysis of career in academia. Thank you for sharing!

Very relatable. I have a PhD in anthropology and was enrolled in a prestigious programme in Europe. The state of universities over here is similar to the US. Just instead of being forced to move to a different city, we're forced to move to different countries in the Post-Doc treadmill. I'm glad you found something that fulfills your intellectual muscle. I also left academia about 2 years ago and am still going through the grieving stages, but happy about the decision.

I think you are on the right track for content and I actually really appreciate the tangential information like journals and academia, but I understand that identifying with a specific theme could boost your channel. I listen to increase chances of new ideas that I have not heard of. Deep dive Dopamine.

Jared, Appreciate your transparency about your education & experiences. In the early 80's when I was college, I discovered the downside of the academic life as well. I had a couple of close friends-one a Professor of Latin & the other Religious Studies-- their lives were always uncertain and it was difficult for them financially with 2 young children. They strongly advised me against the academic life, which I took to heart and pursued a different path. Long form videos on Philosophy would be excellent. I enjoy the intersection of literature and art with Philosophy. In addition, History of Philosophy as well.

just found your channel today and loved your talk.

Thanks for this video, Jared. I usually never comment on KZfaq, but this topic hits close to home, as it’s something I’ve grappled with personally for a while. I’m also a Texan (who recently attended a conference at Austin!); I recently graduated with my degree in philosophy and a minor in chemistry, and I happened to get accepted to a master’s program in philosophy in the UK, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I’ve always wanted (and still to some extent want) to obtain a PhD. My academic moves so far have been geared toward that: conferences, a published paper, etc., but I’ve always been skeptical and weary of doing so for the reasons you mentioned. As much as the rhetoric from my family annoys me, partly as a consequence of my youth (“you have to earn a ‘living’ somehow!”), deep down I know it’s largely correct. Luckily, because of a scholarship, I don’t have any student debt from my undergraduate degree. So funding any future endeavors in grad school would be slightly easier. Still, it pains me to see how the pursuit of knowledge has been barred from those who want it the most. I’ve always wanted to do research in academia, but over time I’ve realized how exceedingly hard it is to do so in comfort and security. Thanks for opening me up to what else is out there. PhD or not, I’ll keep your experiences in mind.

as i grow older i get more interested in learning at least an introductory level of the philosophy of (e.g., language, music, science, etc.).. thank you jared for all you do. society these days needs more wisdom and you among others help expose a lot more people (laymen) to the world of ideas, to think deeply, slowly..

Jared, I don't have any formal training in Philosophy. Your channel was one of the first that got the ball rolling for me, so thank you. I think in depth philosophy content would be great. Personally, I would enjoy getting a comprehensive understanding of the arguments of philosophers that shaped the course of history. Their ideas make up the symbolic world we live in, and that's amazing!

Thank you for your sharing this information ❤❤

ya as a philosophy BA graduate- pls make videos exploring philosophical topics youre interested in!! long form stuff (30-40min) is the sweet spot for youtube i love the stuff that other channels like formacapes do

Excellent Video!

Hi Jared. I enjoyed hearing about your career decisions, disappointments, and successes. I am one of your subscribers who is older, not oriented to philosophy, and not a college graduate. My son-in-law has a PhD. He currently teaches a few counseling education classes at a state college branch. Not his dream job and his degrees came with huge debt. As for myself, I am in a life transition due to the death of my spouse 6 months ago. I guess more accurately I am in a life crises as I am trying to heal from trauma and navigate grief. Your videos have given me a lot to consider as I struggle to accept my new realities.

Thanks for sharing, Jared, I suspect this video is more valuable than you're giving it credit for. I have a similar take on teaching and Special Education, after almost 30 years of teaching. I"m retired, now, and enjoy ideas, writing and reading - very much. I think - even if you didn't become a prof', that all the work you've done has also been a great exercise regiment for brainbox. Seems like you slid into tech with a fair amount'f ease and - I'm sure contributed to an important conversation, visa vie, AI. Again, thanks for the chat, it was a good one.

I’m very happy to hear you talk about this. I always felt like I related to you on the front of leaving professional philosophy for a steady life. I wanted to go to grad school so desperately as an undergraduate and thinking that I was going to go back to my Alma mater to teach alongside my old professors (and honestly I think they thought so too). I went absolutely against that and joined the military instead because I was going to get free grad school if I enlisted and went back to Texas. I still intend on doing that, but I look at my friends who went straight for that path and see them struggle with the job availability and insecurity. Some of them got their terminal masters and just decided to work regular corporate jobs. It felt pretty terrifying that I was so close to living in poverty when now I have a house with expendable income. Even with that, I still feel like I’m losing out on something I love very much. I still think I’m capable in philosophy to do more, and me being outside of academia has gave me the feeling of being wasted, that I could’ve done something. However, I always seem to come back to your videos and think to myself that not only is it alright that I didn’t immediately pursue graduate school, but also that I can still participate in something I love just like I was having these long intense conversations about ideas that we found important to discuss. That reassurance drives to feel good about the work I did and to keep talking with people like-minded who think these ideas are worth talking about. I’m happy you’re thinking of longer form videos, and I’m even happier and grateful that you take the time to make these videos. Helping a lost philosophical soul like myself find something to get him to feel the ways he did just talking about good books with friends is something you can especially feel proud of. I’m anxiously waiting for your first long-form video about philosophy. Hell, I would love it if you did one about a fantasy series or book as well.

Just randomly caught this video, love it. I'm a retired academic, did math logic in the 70s, wrote a decent-but-not-earth-shattering thesis, spent 6 years doing post-docs and instructorships, and finally got onto the tenure ladder at a Midwest Jesuit university. Several times I thought of chucking the academic grind, but couldn't imagine the alternatives. I made it through to retirement, praise be, with my passion for research more or less intact. One of my hobbies, now that I can be a grad student again, is pondering how adjectives work in natural language. Looking forward to more of your content!

Just chiming in here to say I'm one who stuck around to the end of the video. Looking forward to more content, I could do with some mental stimulation. I miss going to school, but can't afford to take any classes these days.

Thanks for the video.

Wonderful, insightful perspectives. Thank you for sharing your journey. I had a similar experience in a different field (theology). My son is very interested in philosophy and plans to pursue it in college. I've forwarded your video. I think he'll find it very valuable. I'm subscribing to your channel and look forward to learning more from you. Thanks!

I'm a cs student that have always wanted to read philosophy but find it to complex and also was hard to read a whole book of idk 200 pages. this year i wanted to start reading again like when i was a kid and read in a week 3 harry potter books. in this time i found your channel, learning how to read and enjoy it more, getting more out of the books and starting a small background in philosophy, just as a hobby. knowing you left academia shocked me a little but at the same time i understood, because i want to be a professor in my area too. it's awfuly paid where i am from (greetings from Chile!) but is more of a calling than a choice for me, it comes from my heart. still teaching, sort of, in your youtube channel is a wonderful news. kkeping up with that fulfilling feeling. it inspired me a lot and made me think of my future choices: trying to make a living and somehow still teach, give back to my peers an fellow coleagues. an equilibrium is hard but hard work (smart work, actually) makes it possible. your video gave me the hope to feel its possible. thank you, for your content and for sharing this :)

I just want to say how much I appreciated watching this video. I have a PhD in English and work as an adjunct at three different colleges. I don't regret my time as a graduate student (and I second what Jared says about the importance of actually liking the experience and NOT going into debt in the process), but I do have to admit that I am rather dissatisfied in my current role in life (for me, grading a lot of student papers is the worst). (Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I would have tried to get a PhD in English although it was a very happy time in my life during that process.) I am glad that you were able to find a way of life that works well for you and your family. For several years, I did work in a non-academic job (while also teaching night classes), but it was in the housing industry (low level structural design of roof trusses) and that business went under during the housing market collapse in 2008. In regards to your plans for future videos: do whatever you like. I like your content a lot and have watched many of your videos. Just from my own perspective, though, I tend to avoid videos that are longer than about 30 minutes. It's too much of a time investment for me. I like watching a variety of different content, and if it's more than about 30 minutes that uses up too much of the limited time I have to watch. It could just also be my diminished attention span that can't take much longer than that, and I start to lose interest quickly. Anyways, again, thank you for the personable nature of this particular video. Whenever we can share our stories with one another, good things usually result.

I think you should continue to make videos on whichever subjects you are most passionate about. I think it always shows as it does in this video. I have a question... you mention missing out on the Academic journals that are very expensive. Do the new ideas that come out in those journals correspond with what the public observes as new ideas, on say platforms such as youtube? I like to think about philosophy, and what will be remembered from today's so called Philosophers after they and we have passed. Love your content, thanks!

I commend your decision for a more secure livelihood. An idea for your channel would be to stream panel discussions with other philosophers about a particular topic. It might give you miss from academia and giving the audience insight into those robust conversations.

This video was made for me. Thank you for the advice it has cleared up a lot in my mind now. I think you are doing a great job with this channel teaching people about how to read and write better I think that is really awesome, keep it up.

Very good and honest monologue.

I'm a high school senior, and this video was really great. For so, so long I've felt a sort of dedication to academia- I was precocious in philosophy prior so it always felt like...the path for me. Reading journal articles is how I spent 80% of my free time, but honestly at this point I'm wondering if I even wanna go to college...thank you for giving me much to chew on.