Ask 5
This podcast from McGill’s Institute of Health Sciences Education invites renowned health sciences researchers to share insights, guidance and pearls of wisdom on building successful careers in academia and scholarship. Access to mentorship is becoming a scarce resource. The goal of Ask 5 is to try to democratize access to this insider knowledge, asking questions like: What important and unexpected skills do I need to be a researcher? What should I look for in a mentor? How do I handle – and overcome – rejection? Alongside host Monica Molinaro, PhD, guests tackle these questions and more.
Episodes

Jun 5, 2026
Jun 5, 2026
29 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, for Season 3’s fifth episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Jennifer asks: "How do you ask for a graceful exit?"
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel:

Mar 5, 2026
Mar 5, 2026
30 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Suchismita Sarkar, for Season 3’s fourth episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Suchismita asks: "How do you navigate authorship on academic outputs?"
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel:

Feb 5, 2026
Feb 5, 2026
34 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Nancy Forget, for Season 3’s third episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Nancy asks: "How do you prepare to go to your 1st conference?"
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel

Dec 5, 2025
Dec 5, 2025
35 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Carol Wissa, for Season 3’s second episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Carol asks: "When do you know that you’re done with a project, dissertation or a line of work?”
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel

Nov 5, 2025
Nov 5, 2025
26 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Maia Siedlikowski, for Season 3’s first episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Maia asks: In your opinion, which is better - a narrow versus a broad program of research?
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel:

Oct 5, 2025
Oct 5, 2025
44 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student and co-host Dr. Khoa Duong for this special edition of the third season of “Ask 5”. This special edition episode was recorded live at this year’s Richard and Sylvia Cruess Symposium on Scholarship in Health Sciences Education. Guests who were interviewed included Dr. Don Boudreau, Dr. Richard Cruess, Dr. Mette Coleman, Professor Norma Ponzoni and Professor Peter Nugus.
In this episode, Monica asks: "What do you think has been the secret sauce of your success?"
Monica explores this question with five brilliant guests: Dr. Richard Cruess, Dr. Don Boudreau, Dr. Mette Coleman, Professor Peter Nugus and Professor Norma Ponzoni.
For the video versions of all the Ask 5 podcast episodes, with fun bonus footage, find us here:
Ask 5 Videos
Interested in asking our 5? Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca

Jul 5, 2025
Jul 5, 2025
29 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Allison Chrestensen, for Season 2’s fifth episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Allison asks: How do you find work life balance?
Interested in asking our 5?
Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca
Also check out this and other episodes on McGill's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--pgeSi4e64&list=PLfMfJihLOASXW4wzBCcR8xdliOw5XEw7b&index=1

Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
35 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Elizabeth Hornyak-Bell, for Season 2’s fourth episode of Ask 5! In this episode, Elizabeth asks: "How do I become a better writer?"

May 5, 2025
May 5, 2025
29 min
Join our host Monica Molinaro and PhD student co-host, Karen Gwen Moniz, for Season 2’s third episode of Ask 5! For the video versions of all the Ask 5 podcast episodes, with fun bonus footage, find us here:
Ask 5 Videos
Interested in asking our 5? Get in touch with us at: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca

Apr 5, 2025
Apr 5, 2025
26 min
Host: Monica Molinaro, PhD, Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University
Co-host: Pamela Lamb, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University
Ask 5 is produced by the Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE) and the Office of Ed-TECH (Education Technology and E-learning Collaboration for Health), within McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Ask 5 is on a mission to:
Unravel the mysteries of what it means to be a researcher
Shine a spotlight on the essential skills, knowledge and lessons that every great researcher needs
Make this treasure trove of insights accessible to grad students, clinicians and anyone eager to dive into the world of research
Want to get in touch? Reach out to: ihse.outreach@mcgill.ca



