Dr. Kate Massey-Chase is an academic, facilitator, activist, performer and writer. She’s a Lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University, where she’s leading a new MA in Arts, Health and Wellbeing. As a creative arts practitioner, she has worked across a range of educational and community settings, including delivering theatre-based and creative writing projects with young migrants, recovering addicts, prisoners and mental health service users. In this episode Kate shares her remarkable journey through the challenges of navigating a PhD while trying to start a family.   CONTENT WARNING - This episode touches on issues including miscarriage and failed IVF cycles. Kate discusses how ‘firsts’ on the PhD and fertility journey happened simultaneously.      She reflects on the struggles of managing the "messy middle" of the PhD journey while dealing with personal loss and fertility treatments but also shares how the PhD served as a creative outlet.   Kate emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts and being adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges and the significance of rest and self-care.   The episode finishes with a top tip to help people keep moving forward.   You can contact Kate here: email : [email protected]  Socials: @KateMasseyChase  This is the MA that Kate mentions in the episode:   https://www.marjon.ac.uk/courses/arts-health-wellbeing-masters/  For more information about IVF: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/   For support for the fertility journey:  https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/   Instagram also has a fabulous fertility community #fertilityjourney #IVF #TTC For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft