Katy Peplin
Accountability and productivity coach for academics and grad students
| Hourly rate range | $50 to $125 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Professionals |
| Also coaches | Performance coach |
| Sessions | Online |
| Credentials | PhD, Screen Arts and Cultures, University of Michigan; MA, Cinema and Media Studies, University of California, Los Angeles; BA, Screen Arts and Cultures and French, University of Michigan; Member, Textbook and Academic Authors Association |
| Practice | Thrive PhD |
Katy Peplin is an accountability and productivity coach for academics. She helps grad students, postdocs, faculty and independent scholars get their work done with less isolation and stress. She holds a PhD in Screen Arts and Cultures from the University of Michigan. She started Thrive PhD in 2017. She has worked with 500 people in her coaching practice and community. She also runs the free AcWriMo writing event.
What Katy helps with
Katy helps academics who feel stuck, isolated or worn down by the work of being a scholar. She focuses on the daily tasks of reading, writing and professional growth.
- Getting to your desk and doing the work
- Feeling isolated in academia
- Spinning your wheels without making progress
- Learning how reading, writing and professionalization work in academia
- Avoiding burnout
- Building regular check-ins that are not tied to deadlines
Who Katy works with
Katy works with anyone who identifies as an academic. That includes grad students, independent scholars, postdocs, tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty, and higher ed professionals. Her clients come from all disciplines and from around the world. They are at different stages and face different challenges.
How Katy works
Katy runs an online community called The Clearing. Members get 3 to 4 coworking sessions each week hosted by Katy. There are daily accountability threads and weekly planning and win posts. These check-ins are not tied to deadlines or teaching schedules. She also offers 60 minute coaching sessions. She shares several strategies and explains why they work, so clients can choose what fits. She starts from what the client says about their own life.
Background and qualifications
Katy earned a PhD in Screen Arts and Cultures at the University of Michigan. She also holds an MA in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA and a BA in Screen Arts and Cultures and French from Michigan. She was a first generation graduate student. She started Thrive PhD in 2017 after informally mentoring friends. It grew into a business with clients worldwide. She has published academic work on animal live streams and on Ford educational films.
Katy Peplin pricing
Programs and services
- The Clearing online community
- Coworking and accountability sessions
- 60 minute coaching sessions
- Courses
- Writing groups
- Workshops
Katy Peplin reviews
The CoachVouch take
A PhD holder who built an accountability community for academics after her own experience as a first generation graduate student.
Best for grad students and scholars who feel isolated and want steady accountability and support with their academic work.
Common questions
How much does Katy Peplin charge?
Coaching with Katy runs $50 to $125 an hour. Message Katy from this page for an exact quote.
What does Katy Peplin help with?
Katy Peplin helps with getting to your desk and doing the work, feeling isolated in academia, spinning your wheels without making progress and learning how reading, writing and professionalization work in academia.
Does Katy Peplin coach online?
Sessions are online.
Is Katy Peplin certified?
Katy Peplin lists: PhD, Screen Arts and Cultures, University of Michigan; MA, Cinema and Media Studies, University of California, Los Angeles; BA, Screen Arts and Cultures and French, University of Michigan; Member, Textbook and Academic Authors Association.
Is The Clearing open to academics who are not grad students?
Yes. It is open to anyone who identifies as an academic, including postdocs, faculty, independent scholars and higher ed professionals.
How private is The Clearing community?
It runs on a platform called Circle that is not tied to social media and does not need an .edu address. Members choose their own usernames, locations and profile images.
How do I contact Katy Peplin?
Send Katy a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.