Research Podcast Series: Thrive, Don't just survive

Research Podcast Series: Thrive, Don't just survive

From SASMA by South African Sports Medicine Association

April 10, 2026 · 35 min · Season 4 · Episode 4

About this episode

The episode explores the balance between research and personal life with insights from Professor Benita Olivier and Franso-Marie Olivier.

Welcome to the Research Masterclass series, a collaboration between the SASMA Podcast and the Research Masterminds Success Academy. This series was created for clinicians, academics, and professionals who are curious about research but often find the academic world opaque, intimidating, or complicated. The aim of this series is to slow that conversation down. We want to unpack research in a way that is honest, grounded, and practical. In this third episode of the series, we are joined by Professor Benita Olivier, and Franso-Marie Olivier to unpack whether it is possible for a balance to exist between research and life. Can we maintain our sanity? Can a social life and well-being exist while conducting research? Links as discussed in the podcast: Rethinking work-life balance: A researcher's guide to designing a sustainable academic life: https://www.researchmasterminds.com/blog/rethinking-work-life-balance From struggling to flourishing: a research-backed framework for PhD wellbeing and productivity: https://www.researchmasterminds.com/blog/phd-wellbeing-and-productivity Why your research identity matters as much as your methodology: The hidden foundation of academic success…

People in this episode

Host: SASMA

Guests: Professor Benita Olivier, Franso-Marie Olivier

Topics covered

  • research
  • work-life balance
  • academic life
  • well-being
  • productivity

Keywords

  • research
  • work-life balance
  • academic productivity
  • well-being
  • PhD

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SASMA, Research Masterminds Success Academy

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